The Wasteland Reviewer

The Carpenter’s Son (2025) Written Review

How many ways has cinema explored the story of Jesus Christ? There are towering epics like The King of Kings with Jeffrey Hunter bringing Jesus to life. You have the mythical and powerful presentation of him in Ben-Hur. But those classic historical epics have given way to more human and controversial takes like Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. We have gotten musical twists as well as farcical ones as well. You even have the horrific brutality of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. But the word “horror” has not been attached regularly to the story of Jesus. But honestly…reading the Bible certainly infers some horrifying elements in Jesus’ story and Lotfy Nathan runs with that idea in his latest directorial effort, The Carpenter’s Son. 

How does Nathan present the story of Jesus in such a unique way? If you really think about the elements of Christ’s story, there are some potentially terrifying elements to explore. That is the root for which Nathan frames this film. The film is gritty and full of dread. Simon Beaufils, the cinematographer of the film, delivers a dark and foreboding atmosphere through the film’s visual presentation. There is something off-putting about this presentation after a while, but the climax of the film delivers some bold and horrifying visuals for sure. This film is only a tad over 90 minutes, and it moves quite well as it feeds the audience a steady diet of mystery, brutality, and grotesque. The film boasts some solid practical effects and make-up work that brings some of the more disturbing elements of the film to life. The visuals are an interesting balance of evocative and provocative. This is the type of film that crawls up underneath your skin and burrows there in quite an effective way. 

Does Nathan’s script honor the legacy and story of Jesus? This is where the film will really lose many audience members who will certainly not come in with an open mind. There is a bold and unique vision that guides Nathan’s approach to the story. That is admirable. But this is not the best executed version of that vision. There are elements that really work in Nathan’s film. The eerie and unnerving presentation of The Boy (Jesus) and the temptation that comes from The Stranger (Satan). The tension and conflict in this dynamic are the most compelling elements of the film. Human temptation will be quite controversial, but it is also quite compelling. The conflict between The Boy and his “father” The Carpenter (Joseph) is one born from a lie and cover-up that plays out like many adoption narratives. The loftier and complex ideas of Nathan’s film do get bogged down in some cliched narrative beats as well as horror movie tropes. The idea of presenting Jesus’ story in a horror context is an interesting one (Scorsese dabbled in this with Temptation) but the execution undercuts some of the power.  This is still a twisted and unnerving tale that has its merits. It just never reaches the heights of the lofty themes and ideas. Seeing so many of these iconic elements of Jesus’ miracles in a horror lens is the most interesting element of the film (and really the whole crux of what the film is trying to do). 

How does this interesting cast bring this bold adaptation to life? One of the biggest selling points of the film is having Nicolas Cage as the titular “father”. He certainly has those moments where he goes full “Uncaged” and delivers some big, bold acting choices. The more grounded and tender elements of Cage’s performance deliver. The bigger moments do two things…elate fans of Cage’s acting approach and may take others out of the experience. This is a generally reserved performance for Cage which benefits the film. Noah Jupe does a fine job as The Boy with an intense and empathetic performance. FKA twigs was an interesting choice to portray The Mother who has quite a unique presence throughout the film. It is quite strange seeing twigs and Cage together as a couple (who even share a kiss). The most interesting and complex performance in the film is Isla Johnston as The Stranger. Johnston injects darkness and unnerving presence while balancing a magnetic aura and a burning rage. As the ultimate influencer and deceiver, Satan is quite the challenging performance, but Johnston rises to the occasion. 

Does The Carpenter’s Son deliver a unique and compelling exploration of Jesus? This is certainly the darkest adaptation from the Bible and will challenge many members of the audience to connect with this. The horror approach has plenty of potential and delivers some haunting and unnerving visuals along the way. The cast does a fine job bringing these characters to life who have plenty of baggage and legacy. The film leans too heavily on horror cliches but there are still some impressively haunting imaginary and compelling conflicts.