THE SHADE

Filmmaker Tyler Chipman brings us the tale of a young man reeling in the aftermath of unresolved childhood trauma. THE SHADE is a slow spiral into darkness.

Ryan is the middle child and the man of the house since his father’s death. He is someone who tries and fails to hide all the pain. Upon the unscheduled return of his older brother into the house, Ryan must confront the demons lurking just beneath the surface or else.

It’s so nice to see Brendan Sexton III again. He is such a force of nature and a fantastic addition. Germain Arroyo is Ryan’s best friend, Nicholas. His energy is a much-needed break from the sullen overtone. He is a star.

Laura Benanti plays the family matriarch, Renee. She adds authentic warmth to every role. Even if her scenes are few and far between, she steals every single one. Dylan McTee plays the eldest brother, Jason. He exudes hurt with an overly aggressive demeanor that perfectly suits the role.

Chris Galust gives Ryan a wounded exhaustion that pours off him. Suffering from unspeakable childhood trauma all while trying to keep his chaotic family together, Galust delivers an emotional rollercoaster, panic attacks and all.

There are a few particularly memorable shots by cinematographer Tom Fitzgerald. Heather Benson and the makeup department give us startling work. They deserve all the applause.

The film is a slow burn with a tense low vibration under each beat. It is 45 minutes until the menace manifests outside the immense toxicity between the two eldest brothers. Ten minutes later, a chill goes down your spine.

What gets the pulse-pounding is undeniably well done. Chipman and cowriter David Purdy use dreams as a gateway to terror. Perry Blackshear‘s WHEN I CONSUME YOU would be a great companion watch for THE SHADE. Similar themes weave throughout both films. Come to think of it, add Jennifer Kent’s THE BABADOOK to that list.

Mental health, anguish, and horror combined to create a unique narrative approach. My advice to audiences is to be patient. Focus on the performances and the underlying metaphor. It is a powerful payoff.

The Shade Trailer:

THE SHADE

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND

11.22.24

127 MIN | THRILLER | HORROR | DRAMA | PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER | NR TV-14

MULTIPLE FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER!

WINNER Best Special Effects – Days of the Dead Film Festival

WINNER Best Directing – Days of the Dead Film Festival

WINNER Best First Time Filmmaker – Days of the Dead Film Festival

WINNER Jury Award Best Feature Film – Snowdance Independent Film Festival

WINNER Silver Audience Award – Brooklyn Horror Film Festival

WINNER Jury Prize Best Feature Film Director – FogFest

WINNER Jury Prize Best Actor in a Feature Film Chris Galust – FogFest

WINNER Jury Prize Best Feature Film – FogFest

NOMINATED Best Feature Film, Best Villain, Best in Show, Best Actor Chris Galust,

Best Stunts, Best Cinematography, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Production Design – Days of the Dead Film Festival

NOMINATED Best Writing – FogFest

Directed by

Tyler Chipman

Written by

Tyler Chipman and David Purdy

Produced by

David Purdy

Director of Photography

Acton Fitzgerald

Starring

Chris Galust, Laura Benanti, Dylan McTee, Mariel Molino, Germain Arroyo, Brendan Sexton III, Sam Duncan, Michael Boatman

SYNOPSIS

Ryan Beckman, a 20-year-old college student from a declining town in the northeast, struggles with a debilitating anxiety disorder following his father’s death. His older brother, Jason, returns home unexpectedly while battling his own demons. Together with his younger brother James, Ryan struggles to break the destructive cycle threatening their family as an ancient darkness closes in on them.

RATING: NR TV-PG

RUN-TIME: 127 minutes

THEATRICAL RELEASE: September 20th

DIGITAL RELEASE: November 22nd

STUDIO/DISTRIBUTOR: Level 33 Entertainment

GENRE: Drama, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Horror

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WRONG TURN

SYNOPSIS: Backwoods terror and never-jangling suspense meet when Jen (Charlotte Vega) and a group of friends set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Despite warnings to stick to the trail, the hikers stray off course—and cross into land inhabited by The Foundation, a hidden community of mountain dwellers who use deadly means to protect their way of life. Suddenly under siege, Jen and her friends seem headed to the point of no return— unless Jen’s father (Golden Globe® nominee Matthew Modine) can reach them in time.

The reboot (and the seventh installment of the franchise) of Wrong Turn starts with another group of successful 20 somethings hiking the Appalachian Trail. When the local Virginians get aggravated by their presence, and they veer from the trail, things get deadly but not for the reasons you think. This script is completely different than the original, which is the greatest bait and switch from the clever set-up in the beginning. That’s the difference between a remake and a reboot. This cast is diverse and cool. They get to take their initial instigators to task, at least verbally. All the tropes are there but they’re used smartly. The first kill is so brutal you’ll both gasp and respect the decision to go all-in so early. From that moment on, the violence and gore are used for shock value that is carefully intentional in forwarding the plot.

Matthew Modine plays Jennifer’s father who comes searching for her 6 weeks after she goes missing. He is great. He walks this fantastic balance between modern man and totally self-sufficient badass that just feels incredibly believable. This is the updated father figure that will resonate with a large genre audience. It’s yet another successful aspect of screenwriter Alan B. McElroy’s reboot of the franchise. Bill Sage is a nice familiar face. He always lives in whatever role he tackles. This is no exception. Even with a runtime of one hour and fifty minutes, I would have been pleased to see more of him on screen. Charlotte Vega as Jen is outstanding. She has a genuine presence that grows stronger with each scene. There is an unexplainable accessibility to her character. Hollywood should continue to take note of this talent. Also, audiences should keep an ear open for Modine’s daughter Ruby as she sings the film’s final song. Stunning performance.

The score is classic staccato string work. Combined with the handheld camerawork and quick-cut editing, the terror is firmly in high gear. This is a totally fresh take of new world versus the old. The complexity of the script will throw you off-kilter. It challenges the viewers’ sense of morality. Who are the true villains? It’s about intrusion and disrespect of cultural differences on a multitude of levels. It’s quite brilliant in a time a faux “wokeness”. The nuance will knock you off your feet. You will not know where this plot is going. It’s twist after twist. That. Ending. Pure perfection.

Saban Films will release the horror film On-Demand, Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD on February 23, 2021.

THEATRICAL RELEASE: January 26, 2021

ON DEMAND, DIGITAL, DVD, and BLU-RAY: February 23, 2021

DIRECTOR: Mike P. Nelson

WRITER: Alan B. McElroy

CAST: Charlotte Vega, Adain Bradley, Bill Sage, Emma Dumont, Dylan McTee, Daisy Head, Tim DeZarn, and Matthew Modine.

RUN TIME: 109 minutes

RATING: R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, and pervasive language.

GENRE: Horror

DISTRIBUTOR: Saban Films

Tag Archives: Dylan McTee

‘THE SHADE’ (2024) A slow burn of manifested grief and reclamation of power.