Just watched Shaman (2025), I'm kinda torn on this one its been a week of dissapointment one after another some bigger than others although this one is right in the middle so at best case kinda close to a 6 but dont take this comment too too heavy because there is some light at the end of the tunnel, literally at the end. The movie had me hooked from the start with its setup but then it kinda fell into some predictable territory that left me wanting more. This is one of those possession movies that starts off strong but then you realize you've probably seen this shit before just in different locations. The movie tells the story of a missionary family, Candace played by Sarah Canning and her husband Joel with Daniel Gillies who take their teenage son Elliot to this remote village in Ecuador trying to convert indigenous people to Christianity. Right off the bat you can see where this is heading when the kid goes into a forbidden cave looking for his toy plane and comes out with something dark attached to him, the whole setup screams culture clash and spiritual warfare which is actually pretty interesting when it's not falling back on the same old possession cliches.
Rottentomatoes Rating
What really works about Shaman is the location and atmosphere, shooting in actual Ecuador gives the movie this authentic feel that you don't get from studio sets along with a beautiful cinematography showing off these mountain villages and caves that look very very creepy without needing a ton of special effects. Then there is Sarah Canning who almost carry the movie on her shoulders as the mother trying to save her son while questioning her own faith and she handles it well enough, you can see her character slowly breaking down as she realizes her Christian beliefs might not be enough to fight whatever ancient spirit has taken over Elliot. The possession scenes doesnt look like your regular or say most common possession buildups or even the actual moments the kid looks like he is not himself anymore, the kid playing Elliot actually sells the demonic stuff without going full cheesy horror movie territory most of the time, even when in full demon mode you actually have that demonic vibe on him so its not only effects, make up, its his hole corporal image and in my opinion they did a great job at it, the effects team did their job making him look disturbing with all that black goo and twisted expressions. The shaman character played by Landre Morales brings this indigenous spiritual element that feels real rather than some Hollywood stereotype of native mysticism.
Where the movie starts losing me is in the middle section where it becomes your standard exorcism vs ancient evil setup, its here where the movie drags a lot and starts to become predictable, we all known that there is almost carbon copy formula for demonic posessions movie and they started with the right foot although then falls into this formula. We get the usual scenes of the family trying different solutions, bringing in the local priest who gets his ass kicked by the demon, then having to turn to the shaman who has been warning them all along. It's not like a bad bad movie but then turns very average becase you can see every beat coming from miles away, like they were following some possession movie checklist instead of really exploring the cultural and religious conflicts they set up. The ending does caught me off guard and honestly saved the whole movie for me and without spoiling anything let me just say they went to a dark place that most movies wouldn't have the balls to go to, the movie doesnt have much to discuss about because one thing is very key to the other but it involve direct kids sacrifice, one son for another and would be the only real reason why I consider it a 6, scratching a 6 and I might be too harsh on this one so take it with a grain of salt, because if they havent done this and how it all plays out would be a total dissapointment. It makes you rethink everything that happened before and adds this layer of moral complexity that elevates the whole experience. Candace's final choice is fucked up in the best way possible and shows just how far desperation can push someone.
What bugs me about Shaman is that it had all the pieces to be something really special with its setting, the clash between different belief systems, and some solid performances but it plays things too safe for most of the runtime. The movie works fine as a possession story but it could have been something more if it had committed to exploring the darker themes it touches on. The technical side is solid with good sound design and practical effects that make the supernatural elements feel grounded, also I really enjoy how even though its a fkn very dark movie visually, in very little scenes I could not see people even on the most dark rooms. The religious vs indigenous spirituality angle is handled better than usual, showing both sides as having valid beliefs rather than making one obviously right or wrong. The movie doesn't take cheap shots at either Christianity or native traditions which is refreshing in this type of story, there is also the village that feels like a real place with real people rather than just a spooky backdrop for horror scenes.
Overall Shaman is worth watching if you're into possession movies or want to see something shot in a unique location with solid atmosphere. The ending alone makes it worth the time even if the middle drags a bit with familiar beats. It's not gonna change your life but it's a decent watch that does enough right to keep you engaged, especially if you stick around for that wild final act that really brings everything together in an unexpected way. The movie is still good enough to recommend but not quite great enough to put on your must see list, its just a casual one time watch because there are not many Shaman movies out there and very few felt like real natives and not the concept we all have from the Hollywood mold. If you're looking for something different in the possession subgenre this delivers just enough fresh elements to make it worthwhile.
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