By: Alex Kuhn, @magaman28
Before you read this, I will warn you there are spoilers. If you plan to watch The Shift, I advise you to do so before reading this review. You could also just read the book of Job, as this movie is a modern retelling of that story.
THE PLOT:
The film centers around “The Benefactor” (played by Neal McDonough), an entity that can “shift” people in and out of different universes within the multiverse. It becomes clear that this role is very similar to the Christian understanding of the Devil, as he keeps tempting the protagonist, Kevin (Kristoffer Polaha), with the offer to join him. In doing so and becoming a “shifter”–somebody who can also shift people to other dimensions—the Benefactor promises Kevin that he will get whatever he wants.
In this case, what Kevin wants is to be reunited with his wife (Elizabeth Tabish), as the Benefactor has shifted Kevin to one parallel universe and his wife to another. Kevin ultimately refuses the Benefactor and decides to stick it out in his current dimension. The next five years see Kevin using a “viewing room” to search for his wife in the other dimensions.
After finally locating her and subsequently stealing shifting technology from the Benefactor, Kevin begins shifting himself through other parallel universes to get back to his beloved. On eventually reuniting, however, the Benefactor intervenes to snatch Kevin away and place him back in the universe he escaped from. The Benefactor then offers Kevin a choice–sell his soul and be reunited with his wife or let an innocent woman (Rose Reid) be reunited with her family. Once again, Kevin declines the Benefactor’s offer.
In the end, Kevin is shifted to a universe where he hasn’t met his wife yet. He encounters her in a bar; they date, get married, and have two kids. In other words, he got double what he originally had.
THE BAD:
There is very little to critique about this movie. The only element that could have been improved on is the explanation of the viewing room in which the protagonist views his wife in an alternate universe.
THE GOOD:
This movie is a fantastic science-fiction/romance movie that I would recommend to any couple. It shows how faith in God is rewarded and even includes a powerful prayer scene in which, while the Benefactor/Devil taunts him, Kevin prays to God, ultimately causing the villain to disappear. In addition, The Shift makes an adept use of science fiction to demonstrate the love Kevin has for his wife.
Finally, Neal McDonough is a fantastic actor. He is a class talent and brings so much to the table, as evidenced by his previous performances in Minority Report, the DC Arrowverse, the MCU, Suits, and Yellowstone. The Shift is no exception.