Shadow in the Cloud

Shadow in the Cloud
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Shadow in the Cloud is an action-packed, feminist creature feature that takes place aboard an Allied B-17 bomber during World War II. The film revolves around the barrage of sexual harassment directed at Capt. Maude Garrett (Chloë Grace Moretz) of the Women's Auxiliary Force. Spousal abuse is a part of the storyline, but the on-camera violence is mostly related to battle combat -- dogfights, gunfire, explosions -- and it can get gory. There's also a beast aboard that Garrett alone must fight again and again. The bomber's crew is in constant peril, no one more than Garrett, who demonstrates grit and resolve in the face of impossible odds. But what she really has to overcome is the sexist attitudes that put her, her mission, and the entire crew in danger. Language is extremely coarse and frequent, including lots of swearing ("f--k," "c--k," "p---y," etc.) and derogatory language that's both misogynistic and racist.
Community Reviews
Original Movie with brilliant possibilities let down by agendas
Report this review
It’s a joke
Report this review
What's the Story?
During World War II, Capt. Maude Garrett (Chloë Grace Moretz) boards a B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress to transport a top-secret package. She's met with come-ons, jeers, and skepticism from the plane's the all-male crew. Relegated to sitting in the ball turret sphere beneath the plane floor, her mission becomes even more dangerous once she spots a SHADOW IN THE CLOUD.
Is It Any Good?
This feminist creature feature delivers a wild ride of a good time -- as long as that's what you're anticipating. At first, though, it's hard to make heads or tails of what almost seems to be two different films stuck together. Shadow in the Cloud starts out as a serious World War II suspense drama, giving viewers a firsthand understanding of the sexism that women often face in the military -- and how that undermines the greater good. Through this portion, Moretz is a one-woman show, the camera focused solely on her as she sits in the cramped, all-window rotating seat below the plane. Only able to communicate with the crew through headphones, she tries different tactics to stop their demeaning treatment while ensuring that she and her important package arrive safely at their destination. It's a claustrophobic, up-close examination of what some skilled, capable women have experienced just trying to do their job. And then, when Garrett spots a "gremlin" standing on the wing, tearing an engine apart, you'd be forgiven for assuming that this is a rewrite of the famous Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." But that's just when the film takes a hard left in logic. Garrett climbs out of the plane's window, taking the film's legitimacy with her. That's OK -- as long as you're on board with the idea that the movie is going to transform into something completely different. When she shouts, "You have no idea how far I'll go," it's not a warning to the gremlin, it's a warning to viewers -- because you definitely do not know how far out the film will go in its last half hour. As the camera turns to show an upside-down Garrett right side up, the film's tone, style, and power dynamic change, leading into action sequences that are eye-poppingly improbable.
This is a film with a case of the "too bads." It's "too bad" that Shadow in the Cloud won't be seen in many movie theaters: The special effects and cowabunga action should really be seen on the biggest screen possible. And, with as many other people as possible -- that last half hour is meant to be a shared experience, with audiences collectively hooting and hollering at the screen and looking at each other while shaking their heads with a smile, mouthing, "WHAT THE WHAT??" It's "too bad" this isn't a full virtual reality experience, because it puts you in Garrett's seat, with her bird's-eye view of the Japanese Zeroes attacking her plane. And, it's really "too bad" that original writer Max Landis is associated with this film, because the very nature of it is so, so close to his real-life situation (he was ousted from the project after multiple accusations of sexual assault and misconduct) that you can't shake his presence. And thanks to the gremlin storyline, you can't not think of Twilight Zone: The Movie, which is notorious for the death of three actors under the supervision of Landis' father, John Landis. Or maybe it all makes sense -- perhaps Moretz and director/rewriter Roseanne Liang taking complete creative control of Landis' work and turning it into a feminist film is justice. It certainly plays out that way in the film. As it becomes clear to Garrett that none of the men on the plane have it within themselves to step up and destroy the slimy, vile, dangerous beast that's plaguing their flight, it's clear to viewers that the gremlin is a metaphor for all of the slimy, vile, dangerous nonsense that women have had to endure through the centuries -- and it's up to women to finally squash the demons whose presence threatens us all.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Garrett is a role model in Shadow in the Cloud. How does she demonstrate courage and perseverance? What do you know about the WASPs, WACs, and other ways women served during WWII?
Talk about how sexism and harassment affect both individuals and the workplace. How are contemporary human resources departments and military operations working to prevent this issue -- and/or give victims recourse?
The "gremlin" is a metaphorical device. What does it mean to the airmen in 1943 versus what modern-day viewers interpret it to mean to Garrett?
Why do you think the tone of the film flips? How is that flip signaled to viewers?
The film was rewritten by director Roseanne Liang after original writer Max Landis was ousted from the project after multiple accusations of sexual assault and misconduct. Does knowing that affect your opinion of the finished film?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 1, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: April 6, 2021
- Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale
- Director: Roseanne Liang
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language throughout, sexual references and violence
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love action and strong female characters
Character Strengths
Find more movies that help kids build character.
Themes & Topics
Browse titles with similar subject matter.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate