SHADOW IN THE CLOUD is a new genre-hybrid movie set during WWII that has elements of horror, action, mystery, sci-fi. With a tiny cast and a B-17 playing much of the tale on board.
But, for just 83 minutes of runtime, there is quite a lot to unpack and I was hooked from the beginning. Basically, if you just sit back and let the story play out, it is a genuine crowd-pleaser. Craziness is going to follow, but it works surprisingly well!
While there is a very small cast in Shadow in the Cloud, Chloë Grace Moretz is the definite star of this movie. Both in terms of performance (though everyone is good in this), but also due to having – by far – the most screentime. In fact, we only see her on-screen for quite some time, while the rest of the cast is only heard. You’ll see why. It’s a very natural part of the plot.
Essentially, the story of Shadow in the Cloud is her story. Even if it does become one that is very much out of her hands. And much more like something out of a Stephen King sci-fi horror story or an episode of Twilight Zone. Yeah, I did love how crazy it went because I love when writers and directors aren’t limiting themselves by sticking to any one genre.
Along with Chloë Grace Moretz (who has the sci-fi thriller Mother/Android in post-production), we have Taylor John Smith (Sharp Objects mini-series) and Nick Robinson (Jurassic World) in key roles. Other familiar faces are Callahan Mulvey (Delirium, 300: Rise of an Empire), Beulah Koale (Hawaii Five-0), and Joe Witkowski (The Wilds).
Check out Shadow in the Cloud in select theaters and on VOD
Roseanne Liang is the director and co-writer of Shadow in the Cloud. This is only her second feature film as a director since debuting with a romantic comedy in 2011. However, Roseanne Liang clearly has a talent for genre hybrids such as this movie, so I personally hope she’ll do more in this same playful and intense style.
Also, I am definitely not the only one who enjoyed her style with this movie. Roseanne Liang won the People’s Choice Award at the Midnight Madness segment of the Toronto International Film Festival [TIFF] in 2020.
The other writer of this movie is Max Landis, who we have been keeping a close eye on ever since he wrote the awesome sci-fi thriller Chronicle (2012).
Up next for Max Landis could be the remake of An American Werewolf in London from 1981 as both writer and director. Of course, this will be a remake of the movie his own father, John Landis, wrote and directed. This remake was announced several years ago, but after the crazy year of 2020, everything seems to be more uncertain than ever before.
As far as Shadow in the Cloud is concerned, I watched this movie at AFI Fest 2020 back in October (though virtual since we are in a pandemic). Now, Shadow in the Cloud will finally be out for everyone to see. And you really should check this one out!
Shadow in the Cloud is out in Select Theaters & On VOD & Digital from January 1, 2021.
