‘The Shade’ Review – A Meandering Story On Grief With Little To Show For It

Something wicked comes this way…or maybe not. Darkness and ominous entities encircle a family, but not much else, nor enough for us to register a care or concern. The Shade posits itself as a dark exploration of the soul but becomes a derivative and stale horror exploit. All the vibes are not enough to make up for a less-than-satisfying story and a great twist that never seems to arrive.

The Shade begins with the tragic death of Ryan’s father, resulting in a lifelong anxiety disorder. Now twenty-one, Ryan (Chris Galust) is all but debilitated. The death of his father haunts him. Now, there is a dark presence in his life that not only threatens him but that of his two brothers. It soon becomes evident that an evil force is permeating his family, and the targets seem to be Jason (Dylan McTee) and James (Sam Duncan). It is up to Ryan to break this seemingly vengeful force before it is too late. 

The Shade recalls elements of Hereditary and even hues of The Babadook. The problem is that rather than innovating the genre as the two films did, this one feels like it is playing to the hits. There is nothing wrong with the hits, but we are left wanting more when there is nothing beyond nostalgia and flashy trappings. As with horror, concepts are borrowed, and this outing feels like a familiar trip to the well. The problem here is not that the well is bone-dry but that the buckets have holes. What we find is nothing but a damp and empty bucket. 

Ominous curses, divided families, and foreboding darkness embody the film, but they serve as mere window dressing. We wait beat for beat, hoping for some payoff because the movie nails the horror vibes on an atmospheric level. Again, the problem is that the story wastes itself, relying on effects and creepy wide shots. There are flashes of someone or something in the foreground. However, the camera never lingers, and the story is more focused on trivial matters than following a threadline. 

It is a shame, as the movie begins with a perfect trigger. Ryan watches his father die in front of him after setting fire to a gravestone. Throw in the trio of black-cloaked figures, and the stage is set for a dark exploration into the manifestation of evil and grief. However, for all the theatrics we see later on, nothing rises to the level of the opening five minutes.

On the plus side, the acting is on point. In particular, Galust portrays exaggerated teenage angst with an afflicted demeanor. He strolls through foggy streets and ominous forests to reach a frightening conclusion. The answer is apparent to the trained and experienced eye, but at least the performance is riveting. Again, it is frustrating that there is insufficient material to elevate the performance. 

The film’s biggest sin is not the derivative or its lack of engaging narrative. The sin is the runtime. Coming in at nearly two hours exceeds the general rule of thumb for a horror film, but ditching that convention is acceptable. The problem is that the movie walks in circles, walks backward, and ultimately arrives in the little town of nowhere. Jokes aside, audiences endure foggy streets, an autumn atmosphere, and a slow-burn character study for two hours.

To be fair, Galust is not the problem with this film. He portrays a character riddled with guilt and paranoia, which is engaging. The issue lies with both the setup and ultimate execution. If the study is a slow-burn, then the conclusion needs to be worth the audience’s time and, yes, patience. 

The Shade is a frustrating movie. It does not annoy the audience, but it seems to forget that the audience is watching. A film can be forgiven for taking too long to reach its point, but it is disappointing when it wastes time and arrives haphazardly. 

The Shade will be available On Demand on November 22, 2024, courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment.