Dir. Tyler Chipman (2024)
A grieving man tries to hold his family together as his brother is plagued by an unspeakable darkness.
Mental illness as a family curse is a topic that been explored frequently in the horror genre in recent years. Grief manifested in horror is particularly well explored, and while it's difficult to feel like there's must left to be said about the topic, it's easy to see from today's film that it can still be scary even when its been done before. Director Tyler Chipman's exploration of mental illness, familial drama, and the pains of having to grow up too fast is a well made film with a lot to love, even if it takes a little while to get to where its going.
Ryan (Chris Galust) has recently lost his father and is now largely entrusted with taking care of his little brother James (Sam Duncan). Ryan has been plagued by nightmares and panic attacks since his father's death, and he's doing the best he can keeping things together with all of his added responsibilities around the house. When his brother Jason (Dylan McTee) returns from college, he realizes that a dark presence has come home with him, and Ryan tries to balance his own mental health with the possibility that something terrible may be getting ready to wreak havoc on his family.
The Shade is a slow burn, and it's also a very long film, coming in at just over two hours in length. It's worth the patience, though, and there are a ton of great creepy scenes as we dive into Ryan's mental struggles. The grief and family drama that haunts him is manifested in some terrifying ways, and while it's certainly slow moving, it's well made enough to where it's not a difficult watch. The film is carried by its excellent cast, and while Galust is definitely the star of the show, every actor involved does a phenomenal job in their roles.
Even at two hours in length, it's difficult to find too many things that could've been cut out without taking away from the story. It's painful to watch Ryan's experience, and the audience is able to identify with his anger when realizing that he's just a young man in way over his head. He's single-handedly keeping the family afloat, at least from his perspective, and the support that he has is not nearly enough to handle what he's going through. His father's death feels more like a straw that breaks his back rather than an instigating event, though its certainly that as well.
For those that aren't fans of slow burns, though, the film will likely be just a little too long. It's really more of a drama than a horror film, even though there are certainly some supernatural horror elements. It's a sad film, much moreso than most of the films that fall in this category. The topics that the film covers are difficult ones, and unfortunately ones that many in the audience will have likely experienced themselves. It's poignant in that way, a film that will be relevant to many people who watch but a subject that no one should have to experience. And yet, the fact that people do mean that its an important watch for some who will choose to do so. Galust's performance drives home just how real this can be, and for that he should be applauded.
Who this movie is for: Slow burn horror fans, Supernatural horror aficionados, Really pale people
Bottom line: The Shade is a slow burn film that handles some serious topics, but it largely handles them well with the help of some great performances from its cast. It's scary at times, devastatingly emotional at others, and is a well made film with a lot to say. For those that can't tolerate slow burn, dramatic horror, however, it may be just a step too far in that direction. It's a good flick, though, and it's well made all around.
