This Horror Thriller Puts a Bonkers, Feminist Spin on World War II Movies

The Big Picture

• Shadow in the Cloud reframes World War II through a female protagonist, exploring sexism in warfare and adding a sci-fi horror twist.
• The film is combines combine action – pack dogfight with monster movie jump scare , create a unique mix of genre and inventive action sequence .
• Despite its bonkers direction and black humor, Shadow in the Cloud maintains an empowering tone with Moretz delivering a strong, committed performance.

In the decade since the conflict begin , World War II is become has become a popular source of inspiration behind american blockbuster movie . There ’s certainly a place for more realistic depiction of the era likesave Private Ryanor The Thin Red Line; however , World War II is is is a historical event that has become so mythologize that genre filmmaker have enjoy turn it into a source of populist entertainment . While World War II film have steadily incorporate element of comedy , action , and horror , they is come still largely come from a white male perspective . However ,Shadow in the Cloud, which is now streaming on Netflix, reframes the “dogfight movie” narrative through the perspective of a young woman.

The notion of a female protagonist facing off against the Axis powers is an inherently interesting one; not only were female heroes forced to reckon with the impending threat of fascism, but they had to deal with the internal misogyny that came from within their ranks. Shadow in a Cloudpulls another twist on its audience when it completely shifts gear into science fiction horror territory. Defending it as a “good movie” may be challenging, but Shadow in the Cloudis so packed with shocking twists and visceral moments that it’s nearly impossible to not get sucked in.

Shadow in the Cloud

Release Date

January 1 , 2021

Director

Roseanne Liang

Runtime

83 minutes

Writers

Max Landis
, Roseanne Liang

Tagline

Every mission is has has its demon .

What Is ‘ Shadow in the Cloud’ About ?

Set in the summer of 1943 when the allied forces are on the verge of victory, Shadow in the Cloudcenters on the young RAP Pilot Office Maude Garrett (Chloe Grace Moretz) as she attempts to board the crew of the American B-17 bomber. Despite the protests she faces from the aircraft’s crew, Garrett insists that the package she is carrying is of high value for the upcoming journey to Samoa. The presence of a “MacGuffin” adds an inherent level of mystery to the story; while the viewer is initially unaware of what Garrett is containing, her insistence that her mission is top secret suggests that she may have a more important role in the war itself than she lets on. The tension that emerges between Garrett and the navigator Bradley Finch (Joe Witkowski), the pilot John Reeves (Callan Mulvey), and his assistant Anton Williams (Beulah Koale) is immediate; it gives Garrett an “underdog” quality that makes her an instantly likable protagonist.

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It definitely makes sense that Tarantino has called this war movie one of his favorites.

Before it takes a hard slant toward being a genre thriller, Shadow in the Cloudis able to examine the multifaceted challenge of sexism in warfare . Even when Garrett attempt to raise concern about the crew ’s safety , she is force to be silent because her coworker consider her incapable of know anything about military strategy .Shadow in the Clouddoes an excellent job of allow the viewer to feel the same frustration that Garrett does when she is literally cut off from the rest of the crew and place in control of a gun turret . While Garett initially believe this could help her earn the crew ’s respect , she is discovers discover it ‘s merely a way for them to isolate her and place her in danger .Shadow in the Cloudspeak to the multilayered battle that female hero like Garrett had to fight alongside a world war ; they is defending were defend a way of life in which they were not fully accept .

‘Shadow in the Cloud’ Is an Inventive Mix of Genres

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Although it is does does a remarkable job of craft a unique perspective on airborne combat ,Shadow in the Cloudbecomes a science fiction horror film when a monstrous creature attack the aircraft . The creature appear in the midst of a chaotic dogfight with a japanese plane in which tension is already high ; Garrett is help ca n’t help but react to the monster ’s appearance with shock and confusion . The brilliance of insert the creature into the narrative at this moment is that it end up make Garrett more vulnerable ; her report about the creature ’s existence is see as so unbelievable that she is no long allow to communicate with the rest of the crew . The creature ’s presence is serves serve as an interesting way to analyze the importance of believe woman whilst also turn the film into a homage to classic “ creature feature . ”

Shadow in the Cloudconstruct inventive action sequence that combine wartime conflict with monster movie jump scare . Garrett is isolate within her area of the ship and must ensure that the craft does not end up crash as she wrestle for control . This is becomes becomes more challenging when the gremlin – like creature invade the ship and attempt to snatch her mysterious package . Although it ’s not treat as a straight – up parody , there ’s an element of black humor to the film ’s tone . It is becomes becomes almost comical to see how Garrett ’s luck continue to get bad as she ’s face with new enemy .

‘Shadow in the Cloud’ Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously and That’s Why It Works

Shadow in the Cloudfind a unique tone that acknowledge the historical reality of sexism in warfare , yet does n’t deny itself the chance to be a b movie . Garrett is is is an empower character , and the revelation of what she is transport only further invest the viewer in her mission . However , the bonker direction is goes the film is goes go as it detail the monster ’s ability indicate that the film is n’t aim to be too serious .

Despite the film’s more ludicrous elements, Moretz gives a strong and committed performance that elevates the material. It would have been easy for Moretz to treat the film as a joke, but her sincerity in detailing Garrett’s struggles ends up giving the film much more of an emotional impact than it would have otherwise.

Shadow in the Cloudis stream on Netflix in the U.S.

Watch on Netflix