Review by Chris Rennirt
When I was kid–back before VCRs, DVRs, etc.–The Twilight Zone was on TV every weeknight at 11:00 p.m. It was technically my bedtime, but I would always, somehow, persuade mom to let me stay up that extra half hour to see it. From the opening voice of Rod Serling, with shattering glass and ticking clocks flying by, to the finale of foreboding music and credits, I loved every second of it; I could easily watch any episode a second time in the same night and enjoy it again just as much. “There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man…” was (and still is) the beginning of my favorite lines to quote. Seeing ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations, with a sometimes supernatural, sci-fi, or fantastic element was the stuff of inspiration as much as entertainment. Recently, as I watched Shadow in the Cloud (directed by Roseanne Liang), I was reminded of The Twilight Zone again, complete with fond memories and nostalgia rarely generated by anything so newly produced. The late 1950s and early 60s were, for me, suddenly connected to 2020, with a most efficient 60 year short cut. And I loved every minute of it, as if really watching a familiar, loved episode of my favorite show…again.
Maude Garrett (Chloë Grace Moretz) ready to board The Fool’s Errand, in Shadow in the Cloud
Just like an episode of The Twilight Zone, Shadow in the Cloud starts smack dab in the middle of whatever is going on. A woman in a military uniform (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on a runway, with a broken arm in a sling, clutching a leather bag. Before her is a B-17 bomber nicknamed The Fool’s Errand, complete with a negligee-clad woman riding a bomb painted on the side. She boards the plane with an order signed by an officer, forcing the crew to take her along. With a plane’s name denoting a task with no hope of success, we know this flight is in for serious peril, especially since this is horror! Who is the woman, what is her mission, and what is the extraordinary experience ahead for all? It’s worse than anything in the enemy-filled skies of WWII and nothing you could imagine…unless you’ve seen the trailer.
Chloë Grace Moretz in Shadow in the Cloud
A large part of our time watching the film, shortly after it begins, is spent with Chloë Grace Moretz (Flight Officer Maude Garrett) in the glass and metal ball turret of the B-17 bomber. It must have gone on for at least 30 minutes, and this is only an 83-minute movie. But, to the movie’s credit, and to the credit of Moretz’s awesome acting, I never checked the time or felt board in the turret with her. Tense and most-effectively claustrophobic, the turret scene was also a highlight of the film, as much as a great and purposeful focus on Moretz. Crouched in the fetal position of a ball turret gunner, Moretz takes her character through a transformation that is captivating to watch, almost as a metaphorical rebirth–a metamorphosis of spirit as much as identity. In her cocoon-like prison, she becomes another person, stronger, bolder, and defiant against the male-chauvinist comments and growing dangers. Am I reading too much poetry into this–a movie that some “call pure, popcorn fun”? As they say, a review is the account of a person’s experiences and perceptions watching a movie…and those are mine. As a firm believer in the ever-greater possibilities of horror, I always look deeper.
What extraordinary occurrence will the crew of The Fool’s Errand experience? If this was not so profusely revealed in any of the movie’s trailers, and if it was not so crucial for a review, I would likely not even allude to it. Let’s just say that the subject matter, gremlins, reminds me of a favorite episode from my favorite TV show yet again–The Twilight Zone. The episode is “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” starring William Shatner, and the subject is, of course, gremlins! Said to be the fantasy excuse for the mistakes made by humans in aviation, are gremlins instead actually real? In a horror movie titled Shadow in the Cloud, saying yes doesn’t give much away.
There are a lot of male chauvinistic sexual comments and innuendos in Shadow in the Cloud directed at Maude, coming from the all-male flight crew. They are relentless, derogatory and insulting, but certainly realistic for the times. Excluding such content, even to possibly pacify those who oppose it would only deny the truth, or at least a more-likely scenario. As one crew member says almost predictably, as Maude inquires about her package, “I’ve got a package for you!”
The special effects (all CG, as far as I can tell) are excellent, high resolution, realistically rendered, and fluidly animated. I say, “as far as I can tell,” because they are so good that it’s hard to tell. CGI effects, when not done well, keep reminding me that they are CGI, as a distraction, making me want the practical effects. Not here! These creatures are gritty, organic and real, even when up close and in your face.
“You have no idea how far I’ll go.” ~ Flight Officer Maude Garrett
While some of the action is way over the top, it’s big fun from start to finish, fitting perfectly with the not-so-serious tone and feel of the film. One such scene (seen in the trailer) occurs when Maude falls through a hole in the plane and is blown back up, from an explosion below, directly through the same hole. Other acrobatics performed on the plane’s fuselage, while not impossible, are fully on par with the movie’s overall stretched realism.
More than just mention, I must highly praise the soundtrack. I loved it! Rarely do I even notice instrumental-only soundtracks, and they are rarely outstanding. But here, it is pounding and intense, keeping with the pulse of the movie, as a part of its lifeline and success overall. Rather than just background, it is foreground, upfront, meant to be felt as much as enjoyed. It’s a soundtrack I’ll purchase, if available. Rather than just forgetting it amongst all of the others I’ve bought over the years, this is one I’d actually listen to.
“It’s not critters who cause accidents…it’s careless airmen!” ~ U.S.-Produced WWII Training Cartoon
And last, but possibly most, is the signature style of Roseanne Liang’s directing. I love her choice of focus and attention to details in a film with relentless action. Whereas the director point of view in some films is not concerned enough with continuity and flow of action, Liang keeps things easy to follow, regardless of how much is going on. Never was I confused, wanting to see something else from an angle not shown. With Liang’s perspective audiences are focused on what they want and need to see. Intuitive, viewer friendly, yet creative and unique. Excellent!
The crew of The Fool’s Errand
What are the “confidential” contents of Maude’s leather bag? Will they stay confidential? Is Maude Garrett really a flight officer in the Royal Airforce, or is she a spy? What is her mission, and how will she ultimately react to the crew’s relentless chauvinism and the ever-growing dangers? Are gremlins really only excuses for the errors of humans? And, most importantly, what danger lurks in the Shadow in the Cloud?
Chloë Grace Moretz ready to kick ass in Shadow in the Cloud
Shadow in the Cloud is a berserk, pulse-pounding experience on your sofa at home, as much as in the ball turret of a B-17. As a not-to-miss homage to the golden age of TV, it flies high above B-movie territory–a Twilight Zone episode on steroids, R-rated, visceral and uncensored for the times. As a fortunate fan of it all, I loved it! From the captivating performance of Chloë Grace Moretz to the gremlins of The Fool’s Errand, there’s nothing not to like. The film critic Derek Malcolm defined a great movie as “a movie you can’t stand the thought of never seeing again.” Rather than an Oscar winner or one that’s universally acclaimed, it can be anything…even a “popcorn movie.” Shadow in the Cloud is one I’ll be watching again tonight!
Rocket Rating – 9
Chris Rennirt (the author of this review) is a movie critic and writer in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as editor in chief at Space Jockey Reviews. He has been a judge at many film festivals, including Macabre Faire Film Festival and Crimson Screen Film Fest, and he attends horror and sci-fi conventions often. Chris’ movie reviews, articles, and interviews are published regularly on Space Jockey Reviews and in Effective Magazine. His mission statement (describing his goals as a movie critic and philosophy for review writing) can be found on the “Mission” page, here at SJR. For more information about Chris Rennirt (including contact details, publicity photos, and more), click here.
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