MOVIE DETAILS • Name: In the Shadow of the Moon • Year: 2019 • Country: USA • Director: Jim Mickle • Main cast: Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, Bokeem Woodbine, Michael C. Hall • Runtime: 115 minutes • Production company: 42, Automatik, Belladonna Productions, Netflix • TRAILER |
It is well known the executives of Netflix have a big interest in science-fiction movies. Besides Stephen King adaptations, time travel stories are one of the subgenres you can find more often in the catalog of the popular streaming service. Although, it is fair to say most of the times the final result is more deceiving than exciting. This is why In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) was such a good surprise.
Added to the Netflix Originals catalog on the 27th of September, not even one week after its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) is one of those very interesting time-traveling stories that could be compared to recent titles like Source Code (2011) or Looper (2012), although this one is more focused to the thriller aspects of the story than action scenes. The screenplay was written by Geoffrey Tock and Gregory Weidman, both part of the writing team of TV series Limitless (2015–2016), is very well built and solid.
Perhaps better known for his horror flicks We Are What We Are (2013) and Stake Land (2010), director Jim Mickle manages to reflect the essence of the story in a very fluid pace. Despite the tricky paradoxes going through In the Shadow of the Moon (2019), the movie is very well narrated and is one of those titles that can keep you glued to your chair for the entire running time. There’s no extra spectacularity added, no big special effects, the essence of the movie is pure, and that is one of the facts that makes it so interesting, enjoyable and easy to watch.
Everything in In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) seems to be at the service of the movie. The collection of pieces that can be artistic and technical sides like acting, music, editing, cinematography and all the different elements that compose a film go hand in hand at the service of the final product. Nothing outstands more than the rest, but everything is in its right place. Or, maybe it’s just I am too much of a sucker for this kind of science-fiction stories, but this movie was a good surprise.
If Netflix can focus their productions in this path, they will end up completing a catalog filled with interesting movies, and not having the feeling of being a platform for audiovisual leftovers. In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) is the kind of movie that I would recommend to all my friends, so there it is, go for it!
RATE: 7/10
IMDB URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt8110640