“Despite spirited performances from the three principals and some startling imagery, The Carpenter’s Son is more like Jesus: The Teenage Years.”
Hitting UK cinema screens this Friday is the director and writer Lotfy Nathan’s latest movie, The Carpenter’s Son. The film is a supernatural thriller based on an unknown, unreleased part of the Bible. It stars Nicolas Cage, FKA Twigs, Noah Jupe, Isla Johnston, and Souheila Yacoub. Set in Roman-era Egypt, the film sees the relationship between Joseph and Jesus. Joseph tries to protect Jesus from evil. Can the film be a chilling and worthy biblical supernatural horror story? Or should the film have been left to die in the desert?
PREMISE
Deliver us from evil. A remote village in Roman-era Egypt explodes into spiritual warfare when supernatural forces target a carpenter, his wife and their child.
THOUGHTS
Sometimes, a film comes along that surprises you with its quality and enjoyment, leaving an impression. This isn’t it. The only impression you’ll get from this film is a sense of boredom for the most part. There is some disturbing imagery, mostly concerning my favourite animals (Snakes, I HATE them), and some jump scares. However, this is a very slow-moving, undeserving chiller that wastes a talented cast. To know Nicolas Cage is an Oscar-winning actor is disheartening. Seeing him reduced to playing an almost demented, at times, Joseph (known only as The Father throughout) is a travesty. He even accuses his wife of adultery, of infidelity. Surely that would have been a warning sign?
Noah Jupe played a small role in this year’s best film, Hamnet, brilliantly. Here, he comes across as a moody teenager for the most part, even being a voyeur during proceedings. Although he doesn’t do it intentionally, he can’t help but stare at a nude woman’s body in the moonlight. Lilith, played by Souheila Yacoub, is wasted. While he slowly starts to become the messiah we know and learned about in school (simply known as The Son here), he becomes an annoying brat for the main part of the story. The conflict between the (adopted) father and son is more in line with a modern-day drama than with a biblical supernatural chiller. Since when did Jesus just stand still and do nothing when a venomous snake bit his father?
FKA TWIGS
I feel most sorry for FKA Twigs. Her role as Mary (or The Mother, as she’s known throughout here) is a waste of her time and talents. Throughout, she is confined to the background, given almost nothing to do apart from stare at her husband, as if she were high, utter a few words, and then go back into the shadows again until the next time she’s forced to appear. Mary was an integral part of Jesus’ upbringing, not some neglected and possibly bullied wife to Joseph, relegated to a background role. While The Son constantly asks after her, he hardly ever sees her. FKA Twigs is completely wasted throughout. She could easily have not bothered to appear.
ISLA JOHNSTON
Isla Johnston as The Stranger almost redeems the film. Almost. From the moment we first encounter her, we know exactly who she is. Just by looking at the marks on her body and face, we see she is the desolate one, the evil of all evil, the beast, the demon. Satan (or Sa-Taan as it’s constantly pronounced here). We know she is pulling all the strings, mercilously killing off the villagers for her own amusement while also trying to draw The Son out, to have him expose his true self, for the villagers to turn against him and cast him out.
To tempt him away from his divine path, to turn him against his real, heavenly father. Isla Johnston delivers a creepy, scary, villainous performance, one that is the standout of the film. The young actress gets all the best lines, the best of a weak script, coming across as a real talent to watch for in future. She plays evil with a coolness that really impresses.
VERDICT
Despite spirited performances from the three principals and some startling imagery, The Carpenter’s Son is more like Jesus: The Teenage Years. What should and could have been a chiller that would resonate and become a real seat-wetter instead becomes a complete mess. It wastes the stunning locations of Sfakia, Preveli and Megara. While the locations are stunningly beautiful (as Crete and Greece truly are), they play a minor role in the baffling events that unfold. At times, I even felt embarrassed for the cast for having material this poor. While Lotfy Nathan directs competently, his screenplay is a complete mess.
Disturbing images, jump scares and decent performances can’t hide the fact that the film is inadequate. It takes a rumoured unknown part of the holy scripture and turns it into bottom-dwelling fodder, something that will hit the bargain bin sooner rather than later. The film earns an extra star simply for the cast trying their best with such poor material, especially Isla Johnston. This is the kind of film that will turn up on late-night TV, be watched once and then promptly ignored. The type of film that purists and those of a religious disposition will decry and denounce, if they can even muster the enthusiasm to do so. See it once, and then let it die in the desert. That’s the fate the film deserves.
The Carpenter’s Son will be in cinemas from Friday.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
