Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Shade review says it’s a Halloween chiller with heart.

The Shade is a dramatic horror film that offers a compelling exploration of family trauma, viewed primarily through the lens of twenty-year-old Ryan Beckman. Director Tyler Chipman, working from his own screenplay co-written with David Purdy, crafts a narrative that blends domestic strife with effectively eerie moments—making it a Halloween season chiller with heart.

The film opens with an attention-grabbing dream sequence: young Ryan watches his father Randall set fire to his own headstone before taking his life. As if that weren’t unsettling enough, four robed figures emerge from the shadows, one approaching the boy. It’s a stark introduction to the psychological landscape we’ll be navigating.

Fast-forward to the present day, and we find Ryan (Chris Galust) juggling two jobs, college, and a hefty dose of emotional baggage. He’s flanked by a cast of equally complex characters: his hardworking nurse mother Renee (Laura Benanti), adorable younger brother James (Sam Duncan), and suddenly resurfaced older brother Jason (Dylan McTee).

As Ryan grapples with therapy sessions and medication, his girlfriend Alex (Mariel Molino) attempts to coax him out of his shell. But it’s Jason’s unexpected return that really stirs the pot, bringing with him a whirlwind of erratic behavior and, apparently, a penchant for attracting supernatural visitors. Ryan’s encounters with a malevolent naked woman and those robed figures from his childhood nightmares add a generous dash of creepiness to the mysterious drama.

The Shade review — a dynamic duo

Chipman and Galust prove to be a dynamic duo, painting a nuanced portrait of sibling relationships that’s as messy and complicated as a Jackson Pollock painting. The love, resentment, and everything in between, feel authentically lived-in. McTee’s performance as Jason is a pressure cooker of repressed emotion, while young Sam Duncan effortlessly charms his way through scenes with his older co-stars.

At two hours and seven minutes, The Shade takes its time, but the result is rich and satisfying. The film’s steady pacing allows for genuine character moments that keep viewers invested, even as the supernatural elements simmer in the background.

If there’s a weak spot, it’s in the finale. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the ending feels more like an ellipsis than a period, leaving audiences with a “to be continued” vibe that may not satisfy everyone’s taste for closure.

In sum, The Shade is a family portrait with the contrast turned up high, revealing the shadows that lurk beneath seemingly normal facades. While it may not provide the decisive ending some viewers would prefer, the journey through the Beckman family’s haunted psyche is a trip worth taking for fans of psychological horror and family dramas alike.

Not Rated
Two Hours, Seven Minutes

If this The Shade review intrigues you, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Shade review says it’s a Halloween chiller with heart.