The Shadow of God Summary and Review - Possession is Only the Beginning

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The Shadow of God is a theological horror that aims to subvert genre expectations by posing a provocative question: what if God is the villain? It’s a premise that promises depth, dread, and philosophical tension. Unfortunately, the execution doesn't live up to the idea.

World Weary Priest

Mason Harper is an experienced but weary exorcist, who returns to his hometown seeking respite after a series of exorcists are murdered on the same day. With a hotline to the Vatican, Mason is clearly valued by the powers that be in the ongoing war against evil. As he settles in and rekindles friendship with Tanis from his pre-priesthood days, he's plagued by visions of his father, Angus - a man he believed long dead, and who left Mason with deep physical and emotional scars.

Initially, Mason wants to help his father, in spite of the past, believing that his behaviour back then was caused by demonic intervention. But as the plot unfolds, the truth becomes far more disturbing. In a surprising revelation, Mason discovers that the entity inhabiting Angus’s body may in fact be God Himself - disillusioned with humanity and ready to wipe the slate clean with the help of the cult (previously led by Angus) that Mason was connected to as a child. That same cult is now desperate for divine favour, seeking salvation by assisting with the annihilation of mankind and thus, Mason and Tanis find themselves in a race to prevent it.

Intrigue in the Setup

Sounds fascinating, right? There’s certainly intrigue in the setup as Mason becomes the battleground for a spiritual crisis, torn between his faith in a God who now seems malevolent and the devil’s tempting logic. It's a narrative ripe for exploring internal conflict and theological conundrums. And yet it doesn't quite make the cut.

The film began as a promising, provocative horror that tries to be profound but ends up feeling muddled and directionless. I like a bit of thought provocation as much as the next person, but on this occasion, my thoughts were provoked to the point of rebellion. Although it served up food for thought, I couldn't really fathom what I was meant to be dissecting or conclusions I was meant to draw, if any. Ok, we don't want to be spoon-fed but a little direction on occasion doesn't hurt especially when there is no clear path leading to anything truly insightful.

Although there is sporadic gore, it doesn't push the fear factor enough to enter into into truly chilling territory. The climax doesn’t help matters either. What should have been a harrowing, high-stakes confrontation instead looks like a rejected scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. The CGI is clunky, the spectacle underwhelming, and the payoff unsatisfying. Maybe this was due to budget limitations, but at this stage, it just adds to the growing irritation.

Seasoned performers, Mark O'Brien and Jacqueline Byers, backed by an able supporting cast, bring  energy to an otherwise plodding narrative but even their efforts can't steer it away from the inevitable.

The Shadow of God had the potential to be something daring and unsettling. But instead, it buckles under the weight of its own ideas, delivering neither scares nor substance. Disappointing and, worst of all for a horror film, totally unfrightening.

2/5

Father Mason Harper: Mark O'Brien
Tanis Green: Jacqueline Byers
Angus Harper: Shaun Johnston
Lucifer: Josh Cruddas 
Kerri: Barb Mitchell 
Beau: Adrian Hough
Director: Michael Peterson
Writer: Tim Cairo
Released: 2025



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