![\"Nicolas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268731671-e8f3.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Carpenter\u2019s Son has attracted backlash ahead of release, without anyone knowing what\u2019s in store from Nicolas Cage\u2019s latest film (Picture: Magnolia Pictures\/Altitude Films)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe Carpenter\u2019s Son has attracted backlash ahead of release, without anyone knowing what\u2019s in store from Nicolas Cage\u2019s latest film (Picture: Magnolia Pictures\/Altitude Films)<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a horde of people ready to be outraged by The Carpenter\u2019s Son<\/a>, the new horror film<\/a> depicting the childhood of Jesus Christ<\/a> and starring Nicolas Cage<\/a> as Joseph.<\/p>\n And while it is ominous, uncomfortable and frightening in parts, it\u2019s also moving, deep and not at all the movie that they think it is.<\/p>\n Based on the apocryphal gospels of early Christians, as explained at the start of the film, The Carpenter\u2019s Son depicts events in the early life of Jesus.<\/p>\n As something not officially covered in the Bible, it perhaps allows writer-director Lofty Nathan more freedom to explore the reality of what \u2013 historically \u2013 this could have looked like.<\/p>\n Here, Jesus is called the Boy (Noah Jupe<\/a>), who lives with the Mother (FKA twigs<\/a>) and the Carpenter (Cage): names are neither used nor necessary.<\/p>\n They live a transient life, protecting their son from those who perceive him as a threat, including King Herod, who has soldiers out tossing babies into fires in Bethlehem in a bid to eliminate him just moments after his birth and the film\u2019s start.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web \t\t Eventually settling in a remote village in Roman Egypt<\/a>, the family is under constant strain considering what the Boy may be and how his powers are manifesting.<\/p>\n You can see why Nicolas Cage would be attracted to playing the Joseph figure as The Carpenter\u2019s Son doesn\u2019t shy away from the tensions between him and the Boy, who he knows is not his son.<\/p>\n He is a devout figure, like his wife, but harsh \u2013 and struggles with the test he must believe he has been given from God as a husband and believer.<\/p>\n The film is accent-blind, and it is slightly jarring to hear Cage speaking in his usual drawling American tones while the rest of his family is British, and especially when the language is more archaic.<\/p>\n But the welcome Cage freakout moment<\/a> to add to the YouTube<\/a> compilation is reliably present too, when he screams at his wife that his faith \u2018has been shattered\u2019 in an acting decision that manages to somehow be both 100 miles an hour and also perfectly judged to match the pain of the moment.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t By flowing between specificity and interpretation, Lofty has produced a horror film about Jesus which is both haunting and powerful. <\/p>\n This is not something that some people will be willing to accept however, if the sheer number of comments and review bombs accusing the not-yet-released film of being \u2018blasphemous\u2019 are anything to go by.<\/p>\n It is of course a sensitive topic, but The Carpenter\u2019s Son\u2019s priority is clearly to provoke thought over the early life of one of the world\u2019s most important religious figures rather than baiting Christians with a disrespectful take (or attack) on their religion.<\/p>\n It\u2019s actually one of the most original and intriguing films I\u2019ve seen this year and undeniably proves that a \u2018horror\u2019 movie can be so much more than what people usually expect from this oft-dismissed genre.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tThe Carpenter’s Son: Key details\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDirector<\/p>\n Lofty Nathan<\/p>\n Writer<\/p>\n Lofty Nathan<\/p>\n Cast<\/p>\n Nicolas Cage, Noah Jupe, FKA twigs, Isla Johnston, Souheila Yacoub<\/p>\n Age rating<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n Runtime<\/p>\n 1hr 34 min<\/p>\n Release date<\/p>\n The Carpenter\u2019s Son releases in US cinemas on November 14 before hitting UK and Irish cinemas on November 21.<\/p>\n Yes, technically, The Carpenter\u2019s Son is a psychological horror film \u2013 but it\u2019s also a family drama, an historical epic, a spiritual film and a biopic too. It is provocative in all the best ways rather than merely for cheap shots.<\/p>\n The horror elements are all linked to the temptation the Boy faces from Satan, here depicted as an androgynous girl (Isla Johnston, credited as \u2018the Stranger\u2019).<\/p>\n You know exactly who she is before she says it, while Jupe\u2019s Boy is initially more of a restless teenager, plagued by visions he doesn\u2019t understand of his crucifixion and resurrection. But his healing gifts grow in power and become more difficult to hide.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t The film\u2019s most potent horror moments come from the unseen evil present in possession, the victims of which writhe in pain, vomit black sludge and speak in tongues. It\u2019s all atmospherically \u2013 and psychologically \u2013 terrifying because you don\u2019t know how far it will go. Be warned too that, unsurprisingly for a film featuring Satan and demonic possession, there are quite a lot of snakes.<\/p>\n The Carpenter\u2019s Son is a genuinely profound movie that deserves to be considered on its own merits and break through the noise being generated by naysayers expecting to be insulted by something they have not yet seen.<\/p>\n I think many will be surprised by the film they want to classify as controversial.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tVerdict\t\t\t<\/p>\n The Carpenter\u2019s Son finds the perfect way to depict the life of Jesus in a horror film that is atmospheric, foreboding and sinister \u2013 but not at all what you expect.<\/p>\n The Carpenter\u2019s Son releases in UK and Irish cinemas on Friday, November 21.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Stills](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268582023-395f-e1762887394259.jpg\")
\n\t\tBased on the apocryphal gospels, the film follows the Boy (Noah Jupe) and his family as they face persecution and temptation (Picture: Magnolia Pictures)<\/p>\n![\"Stills](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268582073-8db4-e1762887428935.jpg\")
\n\t\tFKA twigs stars as the Mother in a film which doesn\u2019t shy away from the potential strain one of the most important families in religious history felt (Picture: Magnolia Pictures)<\/p>\n![\"BGUK_3372886](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268731850-b65c.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Carpenter\u2019s Son is a haunting horror film but also so much more (Picture: Magnolia Pictures)<\/p>\n![\"Nicolas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268731550-f6ee.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt\u2019s easy to understand what attracted Cage to his role (Picture: Magnolia Pictures)<\/p>\n![\"Stills](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268582032-b762-e1759490805364.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe film\u2019s most disturbing moments involve the Boy\u2019s dealings with Satan (Picture: Magnolia Pictures)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_268782540-1328-e1759491602934.jpg\")
\n\t\tFor those who have issues with snakes and demonic possession, you have been warned (Picture: Magnolia Pictures)<\/p>\n
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