The Carpenter’s Son (15) Film Review

November 23, 2025 Matthew Morlai Kamara

Dir: Lotfy Nathan, UK/France, 2025, 94 mins

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Noah Jupe, FKA twigs, Isla Johnston

Review by Matthew Kamara

In a remote village in Roman-era Egypt, spiritual warfare erupts when supernatural forces target a carpenter, his wife, and their child.

Joseph (Nicolas Cage), Mary (FKA twigs), and their teenage son Jesus (Noah Jupe) have lived under threat for years, clinging to their faith and traditions.

However a stopover in a small settlement unleashes growing chaos as a mysterious girl (Isla Johnston) tries to entice young Jesus to abandon his devout father’s rules. With each pull of temptation, the boy is lured into a forbidden world, as his father Joseph realises to his horror that it is the work of a demonic force powerful enough to rival his faith.

Writer and director Lotfy Nathan (12 O’Clock Boys, Harka) draws on his Coptic Christian background to deliver a meticulously crafted, genre-bending supernatural thriller packed with unshakeable images of the divine and demonic at war. It is indeed a strange film – an entertaining, genre-infused cocktail of biblical horror. It’s not just rehashing the same old Sunday school lessons. There are horror cues lifted from films like Brightburn and The Exorcist, which, depending on your taste, either add to the fun or detract from the originality.

The pacing is where the film stumbles early on. There are long, quiet stretches that don’t quite build the tension they should and some of the cinematography feels a bit uninspired, which is a shame because the concept is so visually rich. The cast all deliver solid performances, but it’s Isla Johnston who steals the show. Mark my words, this young woman is going to have a damn good career. Her portrayal of The Stranger is captivating. Johnston’s screen career so far as been mainly in television but she’s now been cast as Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann’s latest project. Fantastic news. If she keeps delivering performances like this one, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Despite its flaws, The Carpenter’s Son is a satisfying watch. It’s a strange, uneven entry in the religious horror genre, but it’s one that sticks with you. If you’re looking for something different, something that challenges your expectations, then this might be the film for you. Just be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride.