You’ve never seen a Biblical film quite like The Carpenter’s Son before.
Set within Roman-era Egypt, The Carpenter’s Son follows a carpenter (Nicolas Cage) and his wife (FKA twigs) as they are raising their teenage son (Noah Jupe). Having lived under threat for years, the family have held closely to their faith and traditions. However, as the family stops in their travels, their son encounters a mysterious stranger (Isla Johnston). As the two become friends, the stranger begins to tempt the young man, claiming to know the truth that his father has kept from him. As the son is lured into a forbidden world, his father becomes increasingly concerned for his spiritual well-being as dark forces continue to grow around them.
Directed by Lotfy Nathan, Carpenter’s Son is a wild ride into the Biblical era that plays with characters familiar to those who know the story of Jesus. This is exactly the sort of film that is designed to get an overreaction from the Church at large. Given the reverence surrounding the story of Jesus, it’s difficult to make a Biblically-set film without drawing the ire of those within Christian circles. However, Carpenter’s Son isn’t meant to be held up for its technical accuracy.
Frankly, the less you take The Carpenter’s Son seriously, the more you can enjoy it.
While that may sound like a critical drubbing but I assure you that it is not. In fact, it’s quite a compliment. Adapting his story from the gnostic Gospel of Thomas, these are the moments that the Biblical canon does not cover. Here, he has created what is essentially an origin story for Jesus (here, simply known as ‘the Son’) as Saviour of the world. As he steps into his teenage years, he’s at a turning point in his life. Even though he doesn’t know his own story, he’s pushed to decide what sort of man he wants to become.
He’s moving from rambunctious youth to responsible adult.
As a result of his Biblical timeline, Nathan has total creative freedom to craft his horror film without the burden of Scriptural veracity. This allows him to take one of the most respected historical figures and lean into the supernatural elements in ways that few films set in this era dare to tread. Demonic snakes, mystical curses and fear of apparitions breathe fire into Carpenter’s chilling tone, setting it apart from virtually every other Biblical film. This is a good example of supernatural horror that simply chooses to be set in 1st Century Nazareth. And it works.
And in the midst of this lies Cage’s ‘Carpenter’, a father who is torn between protecting his son from spiritual harm. As the unnamed Joseph, Cage is at his delightfully chaotic best. With fire in his eyes, he leans into the fatherly aspects of the Carpenter as he wrestles with the responsibility of raising a son while battling spiritual forces. It’s a chaotic story. And, when asked, nobody breathes chaos like Cage. As such, one cannot help but love what he brings to the table.
Yet, it’s worth noting that this isn’t meant to be a story that mocks the journey of Jesus either. (In fact, Jesus’ name is barely mentioned directly.) Instead, Carpenter’s Son leans into questions of faith in the face of darkness and temptation. As Jesus (literally) wrestles with Satan, the film thrives in moments when the Saviour-in-waiting is faced with the darkest corners of humanity’s soul. Through their interactions, Jesus’ view of humankind is challenged with questions regarding truth and justice and teased that his father has been lying to him the entire time. He’s tempted to own his power and step into his identity for his own gain.
While these moments may not be traditional Biblical narratives, Nathan never treats them as silly or unimportant. Here, Satan knows that, if she can turn the Son, the world will fall. (As a matter of fact, these moments feel eerily similar to Biblical scenes such as the temptation in the desert.) Despite the fact that the Son is merely a young man, Nathan makes every potential trial feel essential.
Everything hangs in the balance.
For that reason, one can’t deny the value within The Carpenter’s Son. As a supernatural horror, it brings all the eeriness necessary to keep audiences sufficiently spooked. But, strangely, at the same time, the film manages to take itself seriously enough to have something to say, especially for audiences who are willing to not get hung up in Scriptural accuracy.
The Carpenter’s Son is available in theatres on Friday, November 14th, 2025.
