Exorcism movies often follow a typical, predictable pattern; somebody is possessed by demonic forces, resulting in chaos, scares, and deaths. This is because the malevolent forces want to cause chaos, as it’s in their hellish nature to do so. However, Shadow of God

offers a very different story from even the best exorcism movies by turning the tropes on their heads. The story follows exorcist Mason Harper after an exorcism gone wrong, resulting in the death of his fellow priest. Going back to his hometown, he discovers his deceased father has somehow returned and is possessed by a spirit.

However, the spirit inhabiting his father seems to be holy rather than unholy, but still harbors hatred of humanity. This lays the groundwork for an intriguing take on the exorcism genre, as Mason must wrestle with his faith to comprehend how to defeat a threat seemingly from Heaven. While the story does a good job at laying the groundwork for a very different type of exorcism film, the 2025 horror movie unfortunately falls apart as it goes on. This is because of a flimsy storyline that, despite intriguing concepts, didn’t inspire much faith.

Shadow Of God Has An Interesting Premise Despite Poor Execution

What If An Angelic Figure Possessed Someone Instead?

Right from the start, Shadow of God has an interesting premise that could make for a unique horror story: what if someone was possessed by a malevolent holy spirit instead of a demon? The buildup to this notion is carefully handled, offering a slow burn that keeps us in the know, but the characters in the dark. This dramatic irony is rounded out by strong performances, most notably Ready or Not actor Mark O’Brien’s Mason, Jacqueline Byers as his hometown friend, Tanis, and Shaun Johnston (Heartland) as Angus, his father.

This results in a cryptic buildup that, while obvious to the audience rather quickly, provides tension surrounding both the possession and Mason’s own backstory. The movie attempts to craft a personal connection that explains why the protagonist is the one being haunted by this holy figure. It’s flimsy, but is made up for by the movie’s demonic possession actually being angelic. While it does touch on some religious themes, they don’t seem consistent, an early signal as to where the film’s story was heading.

This is because, despite having a premise with plenty of potential, the movie quickly loses focus as more information gets revealed. Included in this is a subplot that feels incredibly out of place, making the story more convoluted simply to give one character a larger role. While this helps to flesh out some elements of its backstory, it winds up bogging down the initial premise in information that was entirely unnecessary to the film’s journey. This, unfortunately, causes the movie’s ideas to fall apart as the story drags on.

The Horror Movie’s Lack Of Follow-Through Makes Its Second Half Shallow

An Interesting Start To The Journey Quickly Loses Steam

Despite interesting characters and strong performances holding up the movie, the back half forces many of its best ideas into the backseat. Instead, the film sputters out as it tries to find its way to the conclusion, never quite reaching the same heights as the first half. While the movie provides a serviceable conclusion, it’s everything from a major story turn to that endpoint that soured the experience. It’s not for a lack of trying, though, even if more interesting directions existed given the enthralling premise.

Despite having some interesting ideas in the first half, Shadow of God ultimately falls victim to generic horror movie clichés that clash with its unique ideas. Luckily, the characters and premise keep it from being a complete disaster, offering serviceable enough engagement, even at the movie’s lowest point. It’s still disappointing, however, because of the tired path it treads, something that could have been rectified with a deeper exploration of its possession, alongside a more nuanced approach to antagonistic holiness.

Shadow of God arrives Friday, April 11 on Shudder.