In the Shadow of the Moon

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): September 27, 2019

4.3	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 51 Ratings

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MeritCobaOct 2, 2019

It is a pity that this movie turned out the way it did for the premise was interesting, but the execution left much to be desired.
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So this movie is about a man who, as a young beat cop, gets confronted by a series of unusual grislyIt is a pity that this movie turned out the way it did for the premise was interesting, but the execution left much to be desired.
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So this movie is about a man who, as a young beat cop, gets confronted by a series of unusual grisly murders.The subsequent investigation and pursuit seems to end the case eventually. Yet nine years later there is the same series of unusual murders. A copycat at work? And so the movie jumps with nine years intervals from 1988 to 2015, while the protagonist tries to make heads and tails of the strange murders and stop the killer..
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At first you think this is a movie like Zodiac, but this movie isn't anyway close. It has elements of a thriller, a film noir, an action movie and, eventually, a sci-fi movie but it isn't any one of them. It is a mish mash. However,at the core this is the tale of one man's obsession about a repetitive serial killer and what havoc this obsession wreaks for himself and those around him as he slowly loses everything, including his wife, daughter, friends and his sanity..
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Now this might sound like a good story if it wasn't for some bad execution. The biggest issue is that most of the cast is truly unlikable. People are just downright nasty to each other for no apparent reason. Even the closest relationship, the camaraderie between the two cops, comes over as forced: as if they have to pretend to be nice to each other. The whole movie has people being unlikable in general and to those closest to them in particular. And thus there is nobody to care about.
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In addition, most of the roles are unconvincing. Various important relationships are never brought to life. The hero probably loves his wife, but we never get to see that played out, even though this is important to the story. He probably loves his daughter,but she is just enough in the movie as to let us know that he is a bad father. Unfortunately, his relation to this daughter is also of the utmost importance to the movie and again it is not brought to live.
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What is also unconvincing is the gradual falling apart of the lead. Such a role requires powerful acting like Jack Nicholson did in the shining. The lead actor of this movie just seems unable to express the kind of madness and obsession that should convince you that this man is losing his marbles. This is mostly because this is never really shown. With each nine year leap we start of with the character already being in a certain way and during the brief period before the next leap we do see his decline progress. Instead we get mostly a visual clue: he gets a craggy beard glued on, or remark from a bystander.
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Now the above issues are the big ones, but there are many weird moments that contribute to weakness of the movie. There are the Bay style action scenes that do not seem to belong in a movie like this. There is the nonsensical science behind it all which probably should not have been explained at it just turns it into magical nonsense. There is the murder weapon, that apparently doesn't get investigated even though the police are at a loss where it is from and how it is made. Even more, it never gets explained why that peculiar weapon with its shocking method of killing(it causes brains melting out of your ears) is used. Perhaps the last thing to mention is that the movie blatantly reveals the plot. So you do not need to piece things together.. it will be explained to you..
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Another problem is that the movie never gets to grips with the problem of time travel. If you think that the murderer is using time travel, will this knowledge not inevitably start to gnaw on you. Would your actions make any difference or will your actions be the cause of what happens? What if we killed Hitler? Maybe a new one would stand up that wins World War 2 by turning the US and Russia into nuclear wastelands. Or maybe nothing happens at all, other than that your attempt itself causes the man to become the mass murdering freak that he was. Does it matter what you do?.. ..
All of this points to a movie that is unbalanced. There is not enough time to spend on what matters and there is time wasted on things that do not matter. It is getting complicated and the movie doesn't handled that well. However, most of it could have been forgiven if it makes you care about the people. But as said, they are an unlikable bunch. And there, my friend, is the root of all evil.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Max_CriticSep 27, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good acting and a good scifi premise but the film is totally let down by being chock full of Hollywood delusional contrivances. Apparently, all ten of the coke snorting white supremacists in the country start a civil war. If you like Boyd Holbrook you'll like the film, just be aware of the dumb messaging being aimed at you.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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MattBrady99Aug 3, 2020

'In the Shadow of the Moon' is the type of the movie that starts off strong and promising in the first act, where the mystery keeps the audience inquired until the end. However, as the movie slowly unfolds its mystery, you sort of guessed it'In the Shadow of the Moon' is the type of the movie that starts off strong and promising in the first act, where the mystery keeps the audience inquired until the end. However, as the movie slowly unfolds its mystery, you sort of guessed it at the beginning, which was a bit disappointing. I did not try to predict the ending or anything, but my brain picked up on it quickly.

I went into this knowing absolutely nothing and I was inquired throughout. There is an underline theme in this movie that is sprinkled throughout, which I can only describe as "sadness". I think any movie that deals with the passing of time and loved ones is bound to bring a sad quality to it.

Boyd Hallbrook was rather good in this movie and at first, I did not recognise him. He gets to show off a lot of his dramatic side during the more emotional elements in the movie and I think he pulls it off. Michael C Hall was also solid in this movie and he needs to be in more stuff, as we do not see much of him nowadays. Also, Bokeem Woodbine is looking and sounding more like Dave Chappelle as he is getting older.

Overall rating: If the movie sounds interesting to you, then check it out. Not perfect but kept me entertained.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLuis_001Apr 3, 2022

A more or less complex story that comes off as a wasted opportunity because of the ill-fated decision to go down a simplistic path. This tends to be incredibly annoying, especially since the mix of genres this story presents could haveA more or less complex story that comes off as a wasted opportunity because of the ill-fated decision to go down a simplistic path. This tends to be incredibly annoying, especially since the mix of genres this story presents could have resulted in something very interesting and yet it opts to easily get lost in irrelevant action sequences to try to make up for what its leading actor can't do, which is more than anything else to be able to drive the narrative in a compelling way.
We follow the character over many years and nowhere in all that time is he able to adequately lead this film. It could have been exciting enough in the genres it covers if it had known how to exploit them properly, but it ends up not working in any of them or as a whole.
In desperate need of true style and tonal coherence, In the Shadow of the Moon comes up empty-handed in all areas.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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