The newest film from Angel Studios breaks new ground in the faith-based genre by giving fans a sci-fi, romantic plot with a biblical twist.
That film, The Shift, is released in theaters Dec. 1 and follows the story of a man named Kevin who meets a devil-like character known as the Benefactor and refuses his offer of wealth and fame. The Benefactor subsequently sends Kevin to a multiverse where there are multiple “Kevins,” forcing him to fight to get back to his wife and family.
The movie is a sci-fi retelling of the biblical book of Job.
Kevin, though tempted, maintains his belief in the God of the Bible.
It stars Kristoffer Polaha (Wonder Woman 1984, Mystery 101) as Kevin, Neal McDonough (Captain America: The First Avenger) as the Benefactor, Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen) as Kevin’s wife, and Rose Reid (Finding You) as the character named Tina.
“We're watching the journey of the one guy who denies the Benefactor,” Polaha told Christian Headlines.
The film spotlights hope, integrity, and faith amidst darkness and trials, Polaha added.
“Kevin wants to be in a relationship with God,” he said.
Angel Studios has had a string of successes this year. Its summer blockbuster Sound of Freedom grossed $184 million domestically. In October, Angel released a documentary, After Death, that opened in the Top 5. During Spring, the Angel film His Only Son opened at No. 3.
Brock Heasley, the film’s director and writer, said the film is not a typical faith movie but also not a typical sci-fi project.
“For a sci-fi film, you usually think of spaceships and lightsabers and all,” Heasley told Christian Headlines. “... But there's a whole other way of approaching science fiction that's a little bit more grounded. And it's a little more based on character and big ideas, and not big effects. And so, sure, we've got special effects. … But this is a very grounded story that is dealing with one man's journey back to his wife.”
The movie, he said, is also grounded in hope.
“All of us are going to pass through things that are difficult and things that are not necessarily even our fault because all of us have things that happen in our lives for which we are not responsible,” he said. “There is light to be found even within the darkest of times.”
The Shift is rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements.
Photo Courtesy: @Angel Studios. Used with permission.
Video Courtesy: Angel Studios via YouTube
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.