PLOT: Household hiding in Roman Egypt. Son generally known as ‘the Boy’ doubts guardian ‘the Carpenter’, rebelling with mysterious powers. As he makes use of talents, they face pure and divine horrors.
REVIEW: I’m not a non secular man, so I wasn’t precisely offended when it was introduced that Nic Cage could be starring in a horror film about Jesus. However I’m not ignorant sufficient to suppose this is able to be with out controversy. Presenting a non secular determine in any mild apart from sacred will end in some indignant folks. Nevertheless it’s greatest to simply drown out that noise and simply watch the film for what it’s: a narrative of a mom, a father, and their son as they attempt to navigate the world over 2000 years in the past. Throw in a little bit of magic and miracles and also you’ve received The Carpenter’s Son.
Not one of the characters have names (no less than, for many of the runtime); they’re merely The Carpenter, The Boy, The Mom, and The Stranger. Nevertheless it’s all pretty apparent who they’re all portraying. I suppose this was their method of skirting the subject, and I suppose it’s a classier method of doing it. Even when they’re hitting you over the top with what the movie is definitely about, there are nonetheless some summary moments that enable the viewer to look at it by their very own lens. That is about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus’ time in exile, and is basically the “missing years” of their story.
Nicolas Cage is pretty subdued as The Carpenter and truthfully feels a bit misplaced. His cadence is extra fashionable and doesn’t actually match with the world. Cage looks as if a troublesome individual to believably place in a extra period-set story. However I additionally perceive his worth in getting eyeballs on the challenge. Fortunately, we do get one scene the place Cage goes full yelling and loopy mode, but it surely’s not frequent along with his character. Noah Jupe is proving to be extra than simply “the annoying kid from A Quiet Place” and that is very a lot his story. He’s misplaced and doesn’t absolutely perceive his place in life, and Jupe will get that throughout with out a lot dialogue. The standout of the movie is The Queen’s Gambit‘s Isla Johnston. I won’t spoil her function right here, however she’s gloriously evil whereas nonetheless offering a little bit of nuance.
It’s attention-grabbing to see a narrative about Jesus from a distinct perspective than we’re accustomed to. I perceive the place the attract of the challenge got here from. However, as is, it feels far too subdued. The primary hour is usually a little bit of a slog, although it actually picks up within the last half-hour. Author/Director Lofty Nathan clearly needs to inform the story with a little bit of a horror slant, but it surely doesn’t really feel any extra horrific than a number of the darker moments of The Ardour of the Christ. I actually loved the imaginative and prescient of Hell (although I wouldn’t be shocked to listen to that it makes use of AI, as one thing about it simply regarded off). If the film had performed out extra like the ultimate portion, I’d have been extra alongside for the trip, because it felt prefer it truly had one thing to say.
In the end, The Carpenter’s Son has some intriguing moments but it surely principally feels a bit stale. It looks as if they veered off an excessive amount of for spiritual people, and saved in line an excessive amount of to be an entertaining horror movie. It’s Biblical in nature, however by no means actually will get to the meat of something necessary. Cage isn’t very outstanding, and one thing feels off about him when he’s. His supply may achieve the movie a little bit of cult standing, because it positively permits for some unintentionally humorous moments. Which isn’t what you’re going for with a movie that’s usually so deathly severe like this.
The Carpenter’s Son is taking part in in theaters on November 14th, 2025.
