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Early Reviews For The Carpenter’s Son Praise Atmosphere As Pacing, Casting Divide Critics

Early reviews describe a well-crafted, mood-driven experiment that many critics find sluggish, polarizing.

Overview

  • Lotfy Nathan’s R-rated feature adapts apocryphal material from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas into a genre-blending biblical horror-drama.
  • Critics often describe the film as slow and episodic with limited suspense, even as they commend the production design and 35mm cinematography.
  • Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of the Carpenter draws split reactions, with some seeing commitment and others citing a tonal mismatch.
  • Isla Johnston is widely highlighted as a standout for her unsettling turn as the enigmatic Stranger who tests the protagonist.
  • Magnolia Pictures releases the 1 hour 34 minute film in U.S. theaters on November 14, with Greece locations doubling for Roman-era Egypt.