Can you make a distinctly Christian movie that doesn't indulge in creepy, typical melodrama or clumsy sermonizing? Last year, Angel Studios did just that with the gritty and compelling “Sound of Freedom.” I answered your question. Thanks in part to his innovative grassroots marketing campaign, the police procedural starring Jim Caviezel captivated even secular critics and grossed his $243 million at the box office on an $80 million budget. It became one of his most successful independent films of all time.
Angel Studios seems to have stuck to the same winning formula for the sequel. In other words, if you prioritize telling great stories, evangelism will happen automatically.The result is a science fiction drama. “The Shift”
Brock Heasley's directorial debut deftly takes the familiar concept of the multiverse and uses it to retell the story of Job. The film centers on Kevin Garner (Christopher Polaha), a man who is approached for a job by a mysterious figure known only as Benefactor (Neal McDonough). When Kevin refuses, the Benefactor “transports” him to a parallel world, a dystopian authoritarian regime where the Bible is banned. “The Shift” establishes a simple but highly effective premise here. Will Kevin be able to return to his world and the love of his life, Molly (Elizabeth Tabish)?
Like Job, Kevin must endure a long and harrowing ordeal in which his family, wealth, and health are at stake. It is Kevin's deep faith in God that keeps him going in his attempts to defeat his benefactor (who is heavily implied to be Satan himself), which makes his struggle bear a heavy cross. It resonates emotionally with people.
Much of this film's power comes from its incredibly talented cast. McDonough steals the show with his deliciously evil villainy, making it easy for viewers to imagine what it would be like to come face-to-face with Satan. Christopher Polaha is a great leading actor, conveying his great burden and great likability and charm. The cast includes rising stars like Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen One), as well as Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise), Popular actors such as Nolan North (“Uncharted'') are gathered together. ”).
Many Christian films explore religious themes with nuance, like a megachurch's Easter light show, but “The Shift” sometimes makes the mistake of being too subtle. . We are not at all sure how to interpret the Biblical parallels literally here. I'm also not sure if the evil embodied by the Benefactor is truly supernatural.
However, considering the film's many strengths, this is a minor complaint and should earn it more favor from audiences hungry for quality Christian entertainment. “The Shift'' may not be as global a hit as “The Sound of Freedom,'' but it proves an exciting future for both Angel Studios and faith-based filmmaking.
