A One Mann’s Movies Film Review of “The Shift” (2024).
There are certain movies where I look at the production company and perk up and pay attention. A24 is one of those: they seldom seem to put out anything that isn’t at least “interesting”. Another increasingly on my rader is Angel Studios. They have a fascinating ‘crowd-funding’ approach to investment as well as an innovative “Pay it Forward” type of appeal over the end-credits of their films encouraging patrons to ‘forward purchase’ cinema tickets for those not well off! A Christian-based outfit, they funded the biblical TV epic “The Chosen” (which I haven’t seen); the controversial child-trafficking drama “The Sound of Freedom“; and – most recently – the superb biopic “Cabrini“, which got a criminally low level of distribution (at least in the UK). “The Shift” got a limited cinema release in the UK in December, which I missed, but is now streaming on Apple+; Prime Video and Sky Store.
I’m not a religious person and the religious allegory in this movie is obviously writ large. It’s a ‘Job’ to avoid it! (Laugh… I thought I’d never start). But that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable as a dystopian Sci-Fi film and indeed adds another interesting dimension (no pun intended that time).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Kevin Garner (Kristoffer Polaha) is having a troubled life after being estranged from his wife Molly (Elizabeth Tabish). After a near-death experience he meets a beguiling stranger calling himself The Benefactor (Neal McDonough) who offers him a job. But its a job that comes at a price.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: Moderate threat, bloody images, violence.)
Talent:
Starring: Kristoffer Polaha, Neal McDonough, Elizabeth Tabish, Sean Astin, Rose Reid, John Billingsley, Paras Patel, Jordan Alexandra.
Directed by: Brock Heasley.
Written by: Brock Heasley.
Twitter Handle: #theshift_film.
Running Time: 1h 55m.
“The Shift” Film Review:
Positives:
- The film starts really positively adding mystery on mystery: a dunk of Kevin, bloodied and battered, from mid-air into a lake (shades of “Peaks and Valleys” for me); some historical backstory between Kevin and Molly; and then the mysterious meeting with the Benefactor. By interest was well and truly piqued.
- Since Kevin is effectively using the power of prayer to get back to his reality, this film will probably have a strong resonance with Christians: his strength of faith against the temptations of the ‘devil’ is kind of inspiring.
- The story is entertaining, bringing in aspects of both 2012’s “Looper” and 2008’s “Jumper” as well as (obviously) the more recent Marvel multiverse movies and “Everything Everywhere All At Once“. I particularly liked the “Vica-viewing” cinema where Kevin could see his (invariably criminal) other selves robbing and murdering their way through other multiverses.
- The cast are charismatic and engaging. Neal McDonough is particularly striking as the evil but charismatic devil-incarnate. It’s also great to see Sean Astin on the big screen again. (Isn’t typecasting terrible? He’s done dozens and dozens of different pieces of work over the years but when he appears I still think “oh, there’s that Hobbit guy”. Sheeez…. I feel ashamed of myself!)
Negatives:
- The film, for me, becomes rather muddled and confused. Largely because, again imho, it rather over-reaches itself in its definitions of multiverses . As stated early in the film, EVERY decision made in the world generates its new version of reality. In “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” we saw about 20 different multiverses. In “Avengers: Endgame“, Dr Strange saw 14,000,605 different versions of possible events that might roll out. Here, if every possible outcome generated a universe, there would be billions and billions of different ones for Kevin (let alone everyone else) and Kevin’s chance of “seeing” his universe again would be virtually nil. (But, then, I guess we are led to believe it was a “miracle”! So….. )
- The film stars square-jawed hunk Kristoffer Polaha, who looks like he could easily track down and dispatch child-traffickers if required to do so. I’m afraid, for me, he came across as a bit cheesy in the role.
- Although I understand the allegory to the Book of Job, the ending confused me and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to make of it.
- SPOILER ALERT: The Benefactor was clearly thwarted… but surely not defeated? Did he end up murdering Kevin? Was Kevin then in an afterlife? What happened to his son? #Confused. Perhaps it would make more sense if I was more religious! There is an overview of the film and the context with the Book of Job at the following page that is quite helpful.
Summary Thoughts on “The Shift”
I wavered in this one between a 3* and a 3.5* score, but in the end I went for the lower option. I know my friend the Reverend Andy Godfrey rated this one describing it in his review for Sorted Magazine as “an intense, surprising and uplifting Multi-verse story that will have you gripped”. But then he does have the faith!
I will agree it is an innovative new take on a well-worn multiverse concept. If you run a Christian youth group and are looking for a film to pick for a “movie night” for your ‘flock’, I’d suggest that this would be a good candidate.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Shift”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl7rtMiOrvY .
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