Above the Shadows

Last updated
Above the Shadows
Above the Shadows.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Claudia Myers
Written by Claudia Myers
Produced by
  • Mark Schacknies
  • Tara Sickmeier
  • Rob Baunoch III
  • Khris Baxter
Starring
CinematographyEric Robbins
Edited byKathryn J. Schubert
Music by Kaki King
Production
companies
  • HIPZEE
  • Myriad Pictures
  • Boundary Stone Films
  • Bondit Media Capital
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures
Release dates
  • May 31, 2019 (2019-05-31)(BFF)
  • July 19, 2019 (2019-07-19)(United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,594 [1]

Above the Shadows is a 2019 supernatural romance film written and directed by Claudia Myers. The film stars Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson, Jim Gaffigan, Maria Dizzia, Tito Ortiz, David Johansen and Megan Fox.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the Brooklyn Film Festival on May 31, 2019, and was released to video on demand and select theaters on July 19, 2019, by Gravitas Ventures.

Plot

After the death of her mom, a young woman named Holly (Olivia Thirlby) has faded from the world to the point of becoming invisible where her family, teachers, and classmates can't see her. After more than a decade existing in the shadows, Holly meets the one man who can see her, Shayne Blackwell (Alan Ritchson), a disgraced MMA fighter. Holly discovers that it was one of her tabloid photographs that caused his downfall, and she must restore him to his former glory if she wants to regain a foothold in the world around her. With Shayne, Holly awakens to love, but also to the possibility that she may remain invisible forever.

Cast

Production

The film is based on an original script written by director Claudia Myers. On November 1, 2017, it was announced that Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson, Jim Gaffigan and Megan Fox were set to star in the film, which, at the time, was named Shadow Girl. [3] [4] Above the Shadows was produced by Tony Award-nominated company, HIPZEE, [5] in association with Myriad Pictures, Boundary Stone Films and BondIt Media Capital. [6]

Release

Above the Shadows premiered at the 22nd Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF) on May 31, 2019. [7] [8] It won the BFF Audience Choice Award for Narrative Feature. [9] In May 2019, Gravitas Ventures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film and set it for a July 19, 2019 release. [6]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 70% based on reviews from 10 critics. [10] [11]

Courtney Howard of Variety wrote: "This magical-realist fairy tale, about a young woman feeling so isolated and insignificant after a tragic loss that she's literally invisible to everyone except one other struggling soul, is certainly imaginative and intelligent in its ideas. However, the savvy smarts within don't quite sustain the running time and, much like its protagonist, the film becomes transparent in its motives and sentimentality." [12]

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Though it may be amusing to watch Holly sneak around and expose others' lies, it would be much more fun if her own story rang true." [13]

Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "Thirlby gives a good performance as someone who finds it easier to remain a non-person than to make any effort to fix her life. But the more Holly comes into view, the blander her character becomes." [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "Above the Shadows (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ Thomas Canestraro - IMDb
  3. ↑ "AFM: Megan Fox, Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson Board 'Shadow Girl'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  4. ↑ McNary, Dave (2017-11-01). "Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson to Star in Magical Realism Story 'Shadow Girl'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  5. ↑ "The Tony Award Nominees - Shows - TonyAwards.com - The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards® - Official Website by IBM". 2017-06-13. Archived from the original on 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2019-05-24– via Web Archive.
  6. 1 2 N'Duka, Amanda (2019-05-06). "Gravitas Nabs 'Above The Shadows' Starring Olivia Thirlby & Megan Fox; Cinedigm Secures 'The Outsider'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  7. ↑ "Brooklyn Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2019 Edition". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  8. ↑ Schaefer, Sandy (2019-05-28). "Above the Shadows Clip & Poster: Olivia Thirlby is Invisible". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  9. ↑ "SANCTUARY Wins Grand Chameleon Award at 2019 Brooklyn Film Festival - Full List of Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  10. ↑ "Above the Shadows (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Above the Shadows". Metacritic . CBS Interactive.
  12. ↑ Howard, Courtney (19 July 2019). "Film Review: 'Above the Shadows'". Variety.
  13. ↑ "'Above the Shadows': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on 2019-07-18.
  14. ↑ Noel Murray (18 July 2019). "Review: Dinosaur-riding Nazis in 'Iron Sky, The Coming Race' and more". Los Angeles Times .
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