Shutter Island (2010)
The Rain: A terrible storm blasts the island, meaning a return to the mainland by boat is completely out of the question. Looks like Teddy will be staying put for a while to come.
Thematic Resonance: On a surface level, the rain is what prevents the marshals from leaving the island, but the fact that it's water that detains Teddy at the institution is also significant…
High Fidelity (2000)
The Rain: Rob pitches up outside Laura's house in the middle of a storm, sitting himself down on a bench as he waits for her to give him another chance. Nothing creepy about that…
Thematic Resonance: Rob wants his girl back so bad, that he's willing to get sopping wet to prove his love. If it were sunny, he'd just look like a creep.
The Quiet Man (1952)
The Rain: John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara share a wonderfully passionate kiss in a cemetery (bit odd?) as the heavens open. Ever the gent, Wayne strips off his jacket to protect his beau.
Thematic Resonance: There's no romantic clinch that can't be made a bit more intense with the addition of some heavy rain. Wayne's shirt is practically see-through here!
Magnolia (1999)
The Rain: Usually, rain comes down as water, but very occasionally, you get a shower of frogs instead. So it is with the mystical conclusion of Magnolia . Best get indoors…
Thematic Resonance: The downpour brings most of the characters to a realisation or a moment of closure. A shower of frogs will do that.
Point Break (1991)
The Rain: Utah tracks down Bodhi to Australia's Bells Beach, where a violent storm has whipped up a once-in-a-lifetime wave. Giving his old pal the way out he so craves, Utah undoes the handcuffs and lets Bodhi ride to his doom.
Thematic Resonance: The rain provides Bodhi with the ultimate rush, allowing his character to ride off into the sunset. Sort of...
The Truman Show (1998)
The Rain: The network's rain machine malfunctions, causing jets of water to douse Truman wherever he goes. Somebody's going to get fired for that one…
Thematic Resonance: It's the point at which the audience realise that the producers are beginning to slip up, and that Truman will discover the truth before too long.
The African Queen (1951)
The Rain: A tropical deluge during an overnight boat trip causes Humphrey Bogart to beg shelter in Katharine Hepburn's makeshift tent. At first she is appalled by the idea, but seeing how filthy the weather is, she grudgingly accedes...
Thematic Resonance: It's a major plot point in that it marks the beginning of her softening towards him.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Rain: As the defenders at Helm's Deep prepare themselves for the Uruk-hai onslaught, the rain begins to come down in droves. Stiff upper lip time, gentlemen…
Thematic Resonance: The rain here serves to transform the battle of Helm's Deep into a gritty, muddy brawl, in perfect contrast to the gleaming white horses and sun-kissed battleground of Minas Tirith.
Back To The Future Pt. 2 (1989)
The Rain: A bolt of lightning hits the DeLorean, seemingly incinerating the Doc. However, as the rain begins to fall, a mysterious man appears with a telegram from the Old West. Yep, the Doc's gone back in time again!
Thematic Resonance: The rain is presumably only there to add an extra layer of drama to the film's big finish. "The Doc's alive," shouts Marty, joyfully. "He's in the Old West, but he's alive!"
Say Anything (1989)
The Rain: John Cusack ruddy loves standing in the rain, doesn't he? It makes him seem more brooding and intense. If you're serious about a girl, you have to prove it by getting very, very wet. Textbook stuff.
Thematic Resonance: It's in Cusack's contract that he needs to get thoroughly drenched at least one time per movie. He won't budge on it.
