Set to be released in the fall of 2025, a new horror movie called The Carpenter’s Son, directed by Lotfy Nathan, is causing some upset among viewers. The film stars Nicholas Cage playing the role of “The Carpenter”, or in other words, Jesus. The film will also include FKA Twigs as “The mother” and Noah Jupe as “The Boy”. The film takes place in Roman Egypt, where “Jesus” rebels against his guardian, showing powerful abilities that trigger horrors for his family. Viewers who are followers of Christ are throwing some upset feedback that they are portraying Jesus’s childhood as a horror story and that it is making fun of their religion, and is all blasphemy. However, with such famous actors in the movie, the film is getting quite a popular build-up to its release in the near future.
Non-followers of Christ seem not to have such a big problem with the idea of this movie. Beatrice Stuckey ’27 is not an active follower of any religion, and her views seem to be the opposite of everyone else.
“I don’t see the big deal, honestly, they just created a film and I’m sure it’s not going to be that offensive as people are making it seem,” Stuckey said. “They aren’t directly making fun of Jesus that I’ve heard of; they’re just looking at it from a different point of view.”
Non-followers of a religion or Christianity have no problem with the idea of the movie, and might actually be excited to watch it. That is the complete opposite of viewers who do follow Christ. Nick Ferguson ’28 is a proud follower and believer of Christ. With the announcement of what this movie would be about it caused some mixed emotions for him.
“I disagree with the whole idea of the movie,” Ferguson said. “I will not be seeing the movie at all, I don’t want to even hear about it.”
With such diverse opinions across the globe about this movie, there is a suspense that builds for its release. The movie is to be released around Christmas 2025, and there is a reason for that specific timing. Library teacher Courtney Johnson is an active film watcher, and upon her first time hearing about the context of this film and how people are reacting to it, she had some intrigue.
“Arts are supposed to cause discourse, you’re supposed to watch it and form your own opinion, and then you sit in a civilized discussion with someone back and forth,” Johnson said. “That’s what we’ve lost.”
This upcoming film has already done what films are supposed to do, and that is to cause controversy and force people to form their own opinions about the topic. As the release grows closer, the question on how everyone will react after viewing the film emerges. In the end, this film is a great reminder that a good trailer and a thought-provoking film can help awaken the debates that viewers crave.
“I’ve never been really impressed with Nicholas Cage, so I wouldn’t see it just based on him, but he’s obviously doing it to be provocative,” Johnson said. “If it sounds like it could be controversial towards Christianity and the director is making sure it comes out during the holy season, he wants it to be thought-provoking.”
