Overview
- The R-rated release from Magnolia Pictures opened Friday in U.S. theaters, led by Nicolas Cage, Noah Jupe and FKA twigs.
- Early reception is largely negative, with a Rotten Tomatoes critic score around 35 percent as some reviewers singled out the visuals for praise.
- Writer-director Lotfy Nathan has defended the project as an artistic and spiritually meaningful experiment, saying it is not for everyone.
- Faith-based groups, including the American Family Association, organized opposition with a petition and planned theater protests over the portrayal.
- Production was shot in rural Greece to evoke Roman-era Egypt, with critics noting striking cinematography and unsettling horror aesthetics.