Gods, Ghouls, and Nicolas Cage: The Carpenter’s Son Shocks and Scares

Brace yourselves, folks! "The Carpenter's Son," the latest horror brainchild from director Lotfy Nathan, is stirring up a storm of biblical proportions with its spooky portrayal of a teenage Jesus, based loosely on the obscure "Infancy Gospel of Thomas." Expect cries of sacrilege and gasps of disbelief: Nicolas Cage of the "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" fame is donning the role of The Carpenter himself, while the melodic FKA Twigs steps into the shoes of The Mother.

Sure, it might seem that the movie was teetering on the edge right from its casting, but let's not forget its good-looking production and an unnerving performance by Isla Johnston from "The Queen’s Gambit." As the eerie Stranger, who inevitably lets the cat out of the bag as Satan, she is infinitely watchable. Even so, neither the ardent worshippers nor the horror film fans longing for a devilish delight will find themselves hooked to "The Carpenter’s Son."

Joseph and Mary, poised poignantly in the midst of mundane life in the Roman-era Egypt circa Anno Domini 15, are protective parents to a 15-year-old Jesus, enacted by Noah Jupe. Alarms start to ring when Jesus’s new chum turns out to worship the dark side. With a fondness for scorpions and an odd request, "I play games all day. Will you play with me?" the Stranger isn't doing a brilliant job of seeming innocent. Honestly, who can blame Joseph for the growing unease?

As Jesus and the Stranger grow close, the villagers, now facing a serpent-induced epidemic (yes, serpents are slithering out of people's mouths), are inclined to believe that they're dealing with wicked spirits. Meanwhile, Nicolas-Cage-as-Joseph bellows, "My faith has become a broken crutch," as Jesus grapples with an existential crisis, imploring, "Tell me who my father is!"

A hushed seriousness envelops "The Carpenter's Son," a result of Nathan's (of "12 O'Clock Boys" fame) sincere approach to depict a biblical tale sliced differently. Despite the gravitas, an almost comical air engulfs Cage's presence, reducing his biblical character to a somewhat campy caricature. However, Twigs and Jupe overpower Cage’s quirks with startling performances that make you sit up and take note.

Johnston is, without a doubt, the show stealer. One look into her hypnotic eyes, and you can see why even Jesus falls for the Stranger’s enigma. The fact that she’s lined up to play Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming project suggests she's well on her way to capturing Hollywood's spotlight.

Despite its sharp visuals, there's a certain oddball appeal to "The Carpenter's Son" that could see it being crowned a cult classic, with a midnight screening cadre spouting lines in tandem with the characters! Maybe that's not what the creators bargained for, but hey, it sure sounds like a pretty fun ride to us!