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In the Shadow of the Moon
2019 115 min United States of America, Canada R 16+
★6.6
Science Fiction, Thriller
Director: Jim Mickle
Trailers
Description
In 1988, Philadelphia police officer Thomas "Locke" Lockhart, hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer whose crimes defy scientific explanation. When the killer mysteriously resurfaces nine years later, Locke's obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity.
Starring
Boyd Holbrook
Actor
Cleopatra Coleman
Actor
Bokeem Woodbine
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
In the Shadow of the Moon is a divisive genre mashup that opens with a compelling, gritty noir atmosphere before struggling to maintain its momentum. While some viewers appreciate the high-concept time-travel premise and nostalgic 80s aesthetic, many critics feel the execution devolves into a predictable, cliché-ridden narrative with muddled internal logic.
| Production | The film starts with a strong, immersive 1988 urban atmosphere that effectively establishes a suspenseful detective tone. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative suffers from significant inconsistency, losing its stylistic and thematic focus as it shifts from a grounded investigation into a convoluted sci-fi thriller. | |
| Theme | The thematic focus on pre-emptive justice and authoritarian control is viewed by some as a sophisticated moral inquiry, while others find the political messaging to be heavy-handed or ethically problematic. | |
| Acting | Boyd Holbrook's performance is a point of contention, with some seeing his portrayal as a solid anchor for the story, while others find the character development thin and the acting flat. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is highly divisive, with an engaging and fast-paced opening act that eventually drags, resulting in a climax that feels bloated and overly expository. |