Latest news with #ShadowofGod
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
MOVIE REVIEW: We decide if you should feel compelled to watch exorcism-themed horror 'Shadow of God'
Wastes its genre-flipping premise and several actors we've seen do much better work. Exorcism-flavoured movies are a dime a multitude of dozens and while Shadow of God attempts to flip some of the genre tropes on their swivelled heads, it largely fails miserably. Mark O'Brien stars as Mason Harper, an elite exorcist with a troubled childhood who suspects the entity he is doing battle with might be a holy being rather than something demonic. If that sounds like an interesting take on the genre then you'll be even more disappointed by director Michael Peterson (Knuckleball) and writer Tim Cairo's execution of the material. Much of what they present to us, particularly during the final third, makes little sense. There's some sort of group-wide conspiracy at play but it's never clear exactly why they are doing what they are up to - or who is leading the show. O'Brien (Ready or Not) tries his best to embody his character with mistrust and grit on a downtrodden path but his lack of passion sometimes comes across as boredom and you are never fully behind his quest for answers. Speaking of bored, Shaun Johnston feels like he is sleepwalking his way through his turn as Mason's dad Angus. Jacqueline Byers (Tanis), who starred in her own religious horror, 2022's Prey for the Devil, is given such short story shrift, she could be cut from the film altogether and it wouldn't make much of a difference. Josh Cruddas is no stranger to offbeat roles but his presence here enters unintentionally hilarious territory. Peterson's visuals are very hit-and-miss; some are creative and interesting while others are bizarre and quite cheap looking. He should have made greater use of the well-rendered practical effects over the distinctly dismal CGI. Bungling an intriguing main central premise and wasting several actors we've seen do much better work, Shadow of God should've been doused in holy water before its creative team felt compelled to get their hands on it. ● Do you have any favourite exorcism-themed horror flicks? Pop me an email at and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers. ● Shadow of God is available to stream now on Shudder. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Calgary Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign-made films raise concerns for Alberta film industry
Article content U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on foreign-made films is raising concerns among leaders in Calgary's film and television industry, who say uncertainty created by the announcement could slow momentum in the city's growing industry. Article content Article content In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to slap a 100 per cent tariff 'on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.' Article content Article content 'The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,' he wrote, complaining that other countries 'are offering all sorts of incentives to draw' filmmakers and studios away from the U.S. 'This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!' Article content Article content 'There is concern locally and internationally over this announcement,' said Petti. 'There's a lot of unanswered questions, and we expect it may be weeks before we get the answers, but uncertainty is never a good thing for the motion picture industry.' Article content Article content 'In the short term, I imagine it will have a chilling effect on the overall industry,' said Petti. 'The studios . . . rely on certainty. And so the moment you create uncertainty you inevitably delay decisions to finance projects.' Article content Article content 'It's just such a bizarre comment,' he said. 'None of it makes any sense to me. Article content 'It's hard to unpack (Trump's) statement because it's simplifying it in a way that doesn't reflect . . . how (the industry) works.' Article content Peterson said many Canadian productions, such as his 2025 horror film Shadow of God, are financed and sold through a mix of international and U.S.-based partners, which raises questions about how tariffs would be applied.
