Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, drinking in muddled, faith-based sci-fi romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Shift
What's the Story?
In THE SHIFT, Kevin Garner (Kristoffer Polaha) is a family man whose life has fallen apart after the disappearance of his son. His relationship with his beloved wife, Molly (Elizabeth Tabish), has especially been tested. Kevin meets a man who calls himself The Benefactor (Neal McDonough), who promises Kevin everything he could ever desire. Sensing that there must be a terrible price, Kevin refuses the offer. He prays and finds himself transported, or "shifted," into an alternate dimension, while the Benefactor vanishes. This is a dystopian world, bleak and full of suffering. Kevin spends five years trying to find a way home; he keeps his sanity by writing out as much scripture as he can remember (scripture is illegal in this universe). He smuggles pages to those who need them via his friend Gabriel (Sean Astin). One day, the Benefactor returns. Kevin concocts a plan to threaten the Benefactor with a gun to get him to send Kevin back to Molly, but things go haywire when Kevin finds himself in possession of his own shifting device.
Is It Any Good?
It has decent visual effects and acting, but this faith-based sci-fi drama struggles with an uneven screenplay that doesn't quite manage to mesh the story of Job with a modern-day romance. The Shift is largely about the concept of being tested by God in order to prove your faith while avoiding succumbing to weakness (the devil). But in terms of the story, it doesn't make much sense. Even the Benefactor makes the argument that Kevin being tested is pointless, and it's hard to argue against him. Moreover, there's no particular reason for the Benefactor to "shift" people into different realities, other than the fact that it makes for some cool effects.
Additionally, for some reason, Kevin is famous, known by all as "The Kevin Who Refused." The Benefactor says that all other Kevins in all other realities took his deal. But why is Kevin the important one? What does his fame have to do with anything? There are other plot twists that feel forced, and an ending that, if you think about it for a second, is downright stalker-ish. The Shift has its heart in the right place when it speaks about finding beauty and kindness in the world and arguing that people aren't all bad, but its storytelling logic is so muddled that it doesn't have much hope of reaching beyond the already converted.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Shift's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Why is Kevin being tested, and what does he accomplish by refusing the Benefactor's deals?
Do you consider Kevin a role model? Why, or why not? Is he admirable? What are his faults?
How is drinking portrayed? Is alcohol abused? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences?
How is the movie similar to or different from the Bible's story of Job, if you're familiar with that?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 1, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : March 25, 2024
- Cast : Kristoffer Polaha , Neal McDonough , Sean Astin
- Director : Brock Heasley
- Studio : Angel Studios
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 115 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and thematic elements
- Last updated : April 2, 2024
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