We are now in a resurgence era of Christian films. Biblical epics and Christian morals once saturated the Hollywood circuit, producing quality films that are still admired today. Eventually that diminished as the climate changed and less and less Christian themes found themselves in the spotlight. For a while now Christian films fell into two categories; Christian-produced films and Hollywood-sized Budget films. However both struggled for different reasons. Christian-produced films lacked production quality and any sense of realism to the stories they portrayed, while Big Budget films about biblical characters or Christian messages lacked a theological understanding of its content from the filmmakers.
“The Shift” marks a change in the tide. It is not the first film in recent years to show potential in rectifying both of these categories. You can thank the likes of Dennis Quaid for that. But it is the first in this era to branch out from the biblical period pieces into a popular genre of today: Sci-fi. In doing so, it has the uphill battle of winning over its audience without relying on famous biblical characters or IP’s to attract a theater audience. This means, in order to have word-of-mouth pull from its audience, it has to have good writing, acting, and compelling cinematic storytelling. “The Shift” in my opinion has all three.
“The Shift” is based off a short-film of the same name from director and writer Brock Heasley. His opportunity to turn his concept into a feature film creates a deeper, and more thrilling experience. In line with the hype surrounding the “multi-verse” concept that is saturating the movie market right now, “The-Shift” actually does something with it. It uses the writing device to push character-driven filmmaking rather than just world building; giving us engaging characters with actual arcs.
The story surrounds a man named Kevin whose life is dismantled when, after a car accident, he comes in contact with a mysterious man named “the Benefactor”. Kevin finds himself in a dystopian world, lost in an alternate universe, hoping to get back to the life he once had - including his wife and child.
Much of the story draws inspiration from the Book of Job. Even the main characters allude to this and it fits the storyline well to do so. Though they could have made this more apparent in the dialogue, the story centers around not just the question “why does God test us?” but how we tend to view testing as tempting; which God does not. The fact that the movie does not hit us over the head with this, may play to the strength of the quality of film that it is.
Though the ending does have a hint of a sermon-like conclusion it does avoid breaking the fourth wall and spoon feeding the gospel to its audience. Though in doing so, some may view it as jeopardizing its theology. Jesus’ name is never mentioned, but this is also true for the Book of Job. As a Christian, it leaves me wanting them to finish giving the answer; feeling like there are still some safeguards in how much of the gospel can be shared in this early phase of introducing Jesus to the general audiences. As a filmmaker, it values the integrity of the movie written to the strength of the story being told. It leaves room for the viewer to think for themselves and be provoked by the story.
It is a well made film that has helped pave the way for a truly great film. That is a bizarre statement to make, I know, but it is a compliment. In the art of filmmaking it is no different than when Christian’s quote “iron sharpens iron.” Much of what has been done here will help inspire other filmmakers to take even greater risks in pushing forward good storytelling that shares Christian values. More talented actors, like those who brought “The Shift” to life, will explore and be drawn to Christian-themed projects because of this movie. These actors have shown to others that their craft can flourish in this space. And it shows, because you can see how much work and care they put into these characters.
Neil McDonough stands out in a chilling performance in his portrayal of the Father of Lies. Originally, McDonough was reluctant to take the part, but later stated in an interview that it was his own relationship with God that would help ground him.
“If someone was going to play him, it should be me… because I want to make sure that I suck the audience in, to make everyone realize how tantalizing the devil really is at times.”
McDonough is a name brand in Hollywood and yet he chose to make “The Shift” within an unproven market that could affect his career.
“When you have projects like 'The Shift' out there, it makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing." McDonough says.
“The Shift” is rated PG-13, though it is not for the typical reasons we see in movies today. The rating is due to the quality of McDonough’s performance. This is what elevates “The Shift” above the era of Christian-produced films that came before. The writing and performances are given the room it needs to be authentic and true to subject matter.
There are other great performances from Kristohpher Polaha, John Billingsley, and Sean Astin; who is no stranger to Christian-themed movies and has experienced both categories in their highs and lows.
“The Shift” is a solid film that is worth seeing in theaters. As the film ends and the credits are rolling you are reminded of the actual shift that is taking place in the film industry. Christian films are gaining traction but are still in need of our support. They are promising quality if we promise to show up. The filmmakers don’t hide the fact that they are campaigning for the next project. They have to in order to survive. But when the market gates open, Christian movies will be a dime a dozen similar to the sudden increase in space adventure movies after Star Wars. When that time comes, remember: it's not just good writing we will want but good theology too. In the meantime, we can enjoy the creativity and innovativeness of “The Shift” and hope, along with Kevin, of what is to come.
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): Rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements.