Right off to bat in the WWII set Shadow in the Cloud kicks off the action when Chloë Grace Moretz boards a plane of unhappy and misogynistic crew members in this flick filled with insane action. Her character is carrying a top-secret mysterious package the must be kept safe. Unfortunately, the assholes aboard lock her in the turret below the plane, basically a glass bubble with a gun. That’s when all hell breaks loose as she spots a winged creature out for blood and destruction, a gremlin, something that’s long been discussed amongst pilots and airmen and blamed for many plane crashes.
Mortez’s Maude is treated like a piece of meat as she silently listens to the conversation over the radio about what the men want to do to her in appalling detail. But she keeps her cool, even as they treat her like a crazy woman who knows nothing. But she’s carrying a secret. She is a total badass and twice as competent as the airmen. When she faces off against the gremlin she is a force to be reckoned with. But, the film also depicts her as vulnerable and kindness which makes for a great balance.
I was really happy to discover that this movie works hard to make the statement that women are just as good as men. In many genres, women are still frequently depicted as fragile creatures that need a man to save them, especially in period pieces. Not Maude, not in Shadow in the Cloud.
Sure, there are a few scenes that are over the top, such as Maude climbing around upside down on the wing of the plane mid-air, but it’s all in good fun.
The movie has a great twist that you will never see coming. It’s unexpected and the way it was revealed was a great choice. Not only did add to the film, but it also makes Maude’s story more interesting and sympathetic.
Director and co-writer Roseanne Liang did a fantastic job of creating balance in the film which is filled with chaos. She brought viewers something new and fresh, a story we haven’t seen a hundred times. She, along with co-writer Max Landis created a fun flick that will keep you entertained from beginning to end.
Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale, Taylor John Smith, Callan Mulvey, Benedict Wall, Joe Witkowski, and Byron Coll also star in the movie from the producer of Deadpool 2.
Shadow in the Cloud lands in theaters and arrives on VOD and Digital on January 1, 2021, from Vertical Entertainment. Make sure to add it to your “must-see” list!
