It’s been more than 50 years since The Exorcist stunned audiences on the big screen. In the time since, we’ve seen dozens of films try to capture the scares of a possession experience. These horror films come in all different styles with their own twists on the formula. But to stand out, a possession film needs something special.
Shaman is another of those type of possession films. While it has its own twist on the story, it falls into too many familiar tropes without adding its own unique twists. That makes it a somewhat forgettable entry into the genre.
What is Shaman about?
The film is set a remote region of Ecuador. There, a missionary family is working to help convert the native population to the Catholic faith. They’ve brought their teenage son, Elliot (Jett Klyne), along with them. But he’s not quite as mission oriented as his parents.
Instead, Elliot turns to exploring the local area. When he stumbles into an area he shouldn’t, it invokes something of a change. At first, his parents (Sara Canning and Daniel Gilles), dismiss it as an illness, but when dark tidings seem to come to those in their area, they begin to fear it’s something more.
At first, his mother turns to the local priest (Alejandro Fajardo) for guidance. Believing it might be a demonic possession, he turns to exorcism. When that doesn’t work and things begin to go further downhill, she’s left to question her own beliefs, and that leads her to a more local approach.
With the help of a local Shaman (Humberto Morales) they hope to combat the darkness in Elliot. But can they get things turned around before it’s too late?
Falling into old tropes and patterns
This falls into the familiar pattern of possession horror films, as noted. You know where it’s going, and while there is the twist of needing to employ a specialist outside the Catholic faith, it’s a somewhat standard formula. That can be OK if there is a strong visual style, a good story, and engaging characters.
This script comes from Daniel Negret, who hasn’t written many features. It shows. The script is thin, and the film is dry, despite running just over 90 minutes.
It’s directed by Antonio Negret, who has been a prodigious TV director for more than a decade. He’s worked on diverse projects, ranging from Supergirl, to Fire Country, to The Lincoln Lawyer. The look of the film is professional and steady, but it’s not dynamic.
Neither are the horror sequences. The visual flare isn’t there, and there’s not enough depth to the story and characters to add the requisite impact to the sequences. Instead, it feels fairly bland and predictable, becoming something you forget quickly after viewing it. It’s a decent idea for a horror film but the execution doesn’t come together in a compelling way.
Shaman opens in theaters on Friday, August 8.