Shaman

There is a reason a movie like "The Exorcist" is a classic and movies like Shaman are extremely pale imitations. The Exorcist was well written with Oscar worthy performances. Shaman is just not compellingly written and the acting is poor to say the least. This is a horror movie that relies on loads of quick hallucination scares and the this new trick, let's throw in many sudden loud sounds. Jump scares are plenty but none of it is scary or suspenseful. The shame is, the story had real potential with good cinematography but a good movie needs great, interesting dialogue and performances to match. The directing was bland. At times I felt like I was watching some old TV movie. Jett Klyne was not good and Sara Canning could not carry this film. The Latin actors were definitely better than the leads but be warned this is another new film shot in 2 languages , as if this makes it more authentic. An authentic possession film, why bother ? If you must see one more possession/exorcism film, well here it is, but there isn't one thing memorable about this.

The movie "Shaman" isn't the typical film about "possessed by a demon person and their saving". It is not about the fancy computer effects, which usually disgust more than they scare either. So if that is only what one looks for in a horror movie - one won't find it here.

"Shaman" goes deeper than the eyes. If watched with the right frame of mind or at least with an open mind, this movie won't end with the closing credits. It will keep replaying at the back of your consciousness, unsettling it, asking for answers.

Because this movie poses a lot of questions. What's more, it strips you of your beliefs and leaves you questioning your core values, your sense of self, your worth as a human being, your humility. These answers are what haunt you after, so you pray that what you saw in the movie isn't real, so you don't have to face your demons.

Year after year, fewer and fewer films succeed in triggering the mind, pushing through the hard shell of expectations for spectacular, unrealistic and empty video effects and manage to successfully deliver actual intellectual content. Something to exercise the brain, to excite the mind, to leave room for imagination.

When was the last time you questioned your faith, checked up the foundations that hold it unshakable? Is it? Do you really have faith and not only the knowledge of what it should be and how it should feel like, planted by society? What about your faith in people? How many times did you let assumptions lead your judgment? Don't say never, no one is watching. To what lengths are you willing to go to excuse your lies - to yourself, to your loved ones, to everybody?

These are only a few of the questions that this movie made me ask myself while wondering what happened after it formally ended.

This movie is for people who want a real experience. It is not about a 5D computer animation with real people, shot in a room, in front of a green screen. It's about symbols. The actors's play is authentic, the scenery is breathtaking and the effects are kept to the least possible, all of which makes the movie real.

There are many more things that could be said. And this is only my opinion, based on my personal preferences and the point of view I have chosen to see this movie from. There are many others.

I'm going to leave a 10, because this is my way of showing that I want more movies like this one.

This is my way of expressing my gratitude to the actors for investing their time and efforts, hearts and souls to make something meaningful, something worth watching, something for the mind.

This is my way of saying "Thank you" to the writer, the director, the producers for taking the risk and making something different, for having the courage to go against the common expectations and leave their trail.

We need more seeds like this one.

Must confess I was kinda screwed up for YEARS by "The Exorcist". This one has similar vibes, but much milder. Its missionaries in an area that has / had its own Native South American Spirits... and the people very much believe their Medicine Man can cure their ailments with white magic, and animal sacrifices, not unlike "The Believers" (Sangria) then a lesser degree "Serpent and the Rainbow", "Angel Heart" that are MAJOR movies, in a league of their own, quality wise... but similar vibes, although "Shaman", like Exorcist, has more focus on the kid. Lots of actors screaming and audience jump scares, if you are into that, you will enjoy this movie. It MAY even leave a little something in your brain, afterwards... but NOT as much as "The Woman in Black" (1989). That one may kill you.

I think sometimes we get a little bit too spoiled with special effects and we take for granted how less is more. The movie had a good story line, character development was indeed scarce but they made up for it by painting a picture of why these people were in Ecuador. I think that did a really good job grasping the struggle between forced Christianity in parts of the world and also the fact that using things like food and clothing can persuade people to convert. But what happens when the Christian god is quiet and people have to call upon the old ways of their people? That's the question this movie answers and aside from the fact they did a damn good job explaining that, it was shot in Ecuador and completely captured the setting for it. Add to that the fact that the acting was pretty decent and boom we have 6 stars possibly even 7. They used real life situations to execute supernatural possibilities. What more can you ask for in a possession movie? Spinning heads? Contorting bodies? Pea soup? Stop being so spoiled and enjoy a well told horror movie.

Without knowing anything about this 2025 movie titled "Shaman", aside from it being a horror movie, of course I opted to watch it since it was a movie that I hadn't already seen. And of course, since I love everything horror, then I needed no persuasion to check out this movie from writer Daniel Negret and director Antonio Negret.

The storyline in "Shaman" was not overly interesting or entertaining. Sure, it was a watchable enough movie, though it sort of lingered on the boring side. The narrative was slow paced and there just wasn't enough of a drive or momentum to really carry the movie up until about halfway through. It took writer Daniel Negret half of the movie to sort of establish the mood and setting, and it was a bit of a struggle to sit through that build-up.

I was not familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, which was actually something that spoke in favor of the movie. I do enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen when I watch a movie. The acting performances in "Shaman" were fair.

Watchable, sure, but hardly an outstanding moment in horror cinema. Would I recommend horror fans to rush out and get to watch "Shaman"? No, not really. Will I ever return to watch "Shaman" a second time? No.

My rating of director Antonio Negret's 2025 movie "Shaman" lands on a four out of ten stars.