The Shift is a unique and gripping faith-based sci-fi movie based on the book of Job from the Bible.
The film follow Kevin whose day started bad and got considerably worse… Starting with an argument with his wife Molly, he then gets sent home from work (both for reasons he cannot remember), he ends with being shifted to another reality and being confronted by a mysterious ‘benefactor’ who wants Kevin to work for him. Kevin wants to get back to his wife and travels alternative realities in search for Molly while trying to survive in the reality he has been sent by clinging onto the hope of Jesus.
The Shift beings something fresh to the Christian film industry, a multiverse sci-fi film, bringing together multiple dark dystopian realities while an evil ‘benefactor’ (aka the devil) takes pleasure in messing with people’s lives. This films gives off some Screwtape Letter vibes mixed with time/reality-travel with some hints of Christopher Nolan films.
There is a lot crammed into this film, perhaps too much to really bring explanation and exploration in the various realities, a TV series would be very welcome to really explore and develop the story. For those who are Christians and know the book of Job, the underlying story will be easier to understand, though some more explanation may be required for those who are not. However that being said it is a fantastic sci-fi story based on the book of Job and hopefully kick-starts a genre sorely lacking in faith-based films. We want to see more faith-based sci-fi movies that really push forward, with great stories and imagination, perhaps some Nolan-esq films (we’d love to see more faith-based films along the lines of Inception, Interstellar or Tenet).
Even though we’d like to see more references to Jesus and His power, the film does feature the power of prayer against the evil one. Ultimately the film shows that Jesus is with us wherever we are, whatever we are going through, through the hard dark times (even when it feels like we are alone), keep your eyes on Jesus, keep on praying and keep sharing your faith however you can. It is through those hard times that God grows us and strengthens us and lets make sure we are equipped with the full armour of God so that we can take our stand against the devils schemes.
Overall The Shift is a very gripping and fresh faith-based sci-fi that rivals and is better than some of the current sci-fi films and shows.