This is an ambitious science fiction film exploring multiple realities, drawing parallels to the Book of Job. The setting leans toward a bleak future, featuring Kristoffer Polaha as the central character and Neal McDonough as the enigmatic Benefactor, with Sean Astin appearing in a smaller part. While the connection between the lead and his love interest (Elizabeth Tabish) feels genuine, the initial portion can be disorienting due to frequent jumps between different realities. The narrative becomes clearer later on, offering some impactful ideas for contemplation, such as "You Are Not Your Worst Moment." The film marks the writer/director’s first full-length project following a series of short films released between 2016 and 2019; one of those shorts was also titled “The Shift” and served as inspiration. The production quality is impressive for an independent work, with skilled actors meeting the demands of their roles. It shares similarities with “The Shack” (2017) in its examination of difficult questions about existence, specifically concerning how a benevolent God could permit suffering and injustice. Both films provide substantial material for introspection, though this one incorporates science fiction elements. It also suffers from being overly complicated, reminiscent of “Beyond the Darkness,” or "Heaven’s War." The writer/director trusts viewers to assemble the narrative if they are willing to engage with it. The film's runtime is 1 hour and 54 minutes and was filmed in Birmingham, Alabama during late winter 2023. GRADE: B/B-

Source on TMDB