As the entertainment world focuses on the year-end release of Wonder Woman 1984, I’d like to make a bold suggestion: reserve some of your time and attention for the New Year’s Day premiere of Shadow in the Cloud, another female-led actioner and a complete blast. A mashup of creature feature, World War II adventure and feminist parable, the film’s various pieces don’t always fit together tidily. Yet, it's so much fun, it’s easy to look past the overstuffed story to focus -- as the movie does -- on the resourcefulness, daring and strength of protagonist Maude Garrett (Chloë Grace Moretz).
Shadow in the Cloud begins with Maude forcing her way onto an Allied military flight during a quick stop. It’s 1943 in the middle of the second world war, and the male crew is surprised and annoyed to have a dame on board. As they take off, they put her in the gun turret and take her bag, whose secret contents she insists are of the utmost importance to her mission. At first, the biggest problem Maude encounters is the rampant sexism of the crew’s locker-room banter, which she overhears on her radio while trapped in the turret. The men belittle and sexualize her in a way that will likely be familiar to almost every woman who watches the movie. Still, Maude’s already proven herself to be steely and determined, so viewers can feel comfortable in the knowledge she’ll soon show up these misogynistic men.
Besides, Maude's about to face bigger challenges. As she sits in the turret with a better view of the landscape than anyone else, she notices a Japanese plane traveling into their airspace as well as a creature creeping along the plane. But when she reports what she sees, the men mock her concerns as ridiculous, question her tone and dismiss her as hysterical. Of course, Maude and the plane's crew are soon battling a gremlin, the mythological monsters that World War II pilots used to blame for the inexplicable problems they encountered, and the Japanese. And as the action ramps up, Maude’s efforts to protect her bag become nothing short of superhuman.
The movie's story is told almost entirely from Maude’s perspective. This means that even when the male characters are speaking, they’re heard more than they’re seen. In particular, when Maude is stuck in the turret, we listen to their commentary while watching her reactions. Because of this approach, Moretz is in almost every frame, and she’s extraordinary, making Maude smart and capable but never denying her frustration or fear. It’s a tour de force performance that also serves as a strong anchor for the narrative.
Moretz is matched by the confident direction by Roseanne Liang, who’s also credited with co-writing the script. Liang tackles the various parts of the story with an assured hand, ratcheting up the tension and creating heart-pounding action set pieces that keep the movie thoroughly engrossing throughout its zippy 83 minutes. In addition, the film is peppered with interesting visual and aural choices, including the use of pink and green lighting that mimics the colors of the lights on the plane’s wings, a detailed look at the gremlin tormenting the aircraft and an '80s-esque score that make the story feel fresh and unique.
The only time I felt less than thrilled watching Shadow in the Cloud was when the contents of Maude’s bag are finally revealed. While I didn’t see the revelation coming, it recontextualized Maude’s story in a way that didn’t feel entirely worthy of the character. Of course, some viewers may feel differently (I won’t spoil anything here), but regardless, the reveal leads to a fantastic, feminist final moment that I genuinely appreciated and didn’t forestall the action at the heart of the movie, so my disappointment doesn't lessen my overall adoration for the film.
Shadow in the Cloud is what used to be called a crowd-pleaser when we used to attend movies in crowds. But even if your only option for accessing it is video on demand, the film is worth the watch. Shadow in the Cloud is the kind of thoroughly absorbing, action-packed fun the movies were made for.
Shadow in the Cloud, directed by Roseanne Liang and starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale, Taylor John Smith and Callan Mulvey, is available in select theaters and on VOD and digital on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.