Well Go USA has been on a tear recently delivering a wide range of films! We’ve seen martial arts movies, action thrillers, and now a horror/supernatural entry titled Shaman. Until we received an early review copy, I had honestly never heard of Shaman or its director, Antonio Negret. I went in blind, avoiding any research, and the end result surprised me more than expected. Is Shaman worth its 1 hour and 38-minute runtime, or should you say a prayer and skip it? Let’s find out in my review of Shaman! Huge thanks to Well Go USA for the early review copy.

Story

Shaman is a religious-themed horror film centered on Candice, a missionary working in a small Ecuadorian village to convert locals to Catholicism. Trouble begins when her son, Elliot, plays in a cave the villagers claim harbors an evil entity. Forced to confront an ancient power, Candice must rely on her faith to save her child. But is her belief strong enough to triumph?

On paper, the premise sounds strong—unique setting, supernatural theme, and religious conflict. Unfortunately, Shaman stumbles into many of horror’s common pitfalls. It leans heavily on jump scares and loud noises while underusing its more interesting religious themes. I wanted to see Catholic beliefs clash more directly with Shaman practices, but those moments appear only a few times. The pacing also drags, with the first hour feeling unfocused. The final 30 minutes ramp up with faith-versus-faith conflict and some tense sequences, but it’s too little, too late.

The characters lack depth as well. Candice’s motivations for becoming a missionary are never explained, Joel’s role as a husband and father feels weak, and the entity’s strength compared to God’s power is left unexplored. These missing pieces hold the story back from being compelling.

Acting and Cast

The acting in Shaman is inconsistent. Sara Canning (Candice) delivers a decent performance and holds most of the film together. Daniel Gillies (Joel) and Jett Klyne (Elliot) are serviceable, though Joel often feels too passive as both father and husband. Jett fares better, selling Elliot’s possession scenes effectively.

Interestingly, the side cast—the villagers—leave a stronger impression than the leads. Their reactions to the supernatural events and adherence to tradition feel believable and unsettling, even if most are lesser-known actors. They ground the film more than the main family does.

Cinematography and Direction

If there’s one standout element, it’s the camera work and direction. Negret does a solid job creating atmosphere, using misdirection and off-camera tension to build suspense. Possession scenes, particularly involving Elliot, keep viewers uneasy. The scenic shots of the volcano village are also striking, giving the film a unique backdrop rarely seen in horror.

However, the special effects are weak. From awkward possession body contortions to poorly rendered scorpions and creatures, these moments break immersion. The direction keeps the film watchable, but the effects needed more polish to elevate the horror.

Conclusion

As a horror fan, I can be tough on the genre, and Shaman doesn’t rise above average. While it isn’t unwatchable, it’s far from memorable. The film has occasional moments of tension, a great setting, and a solid performance from Sara Canning, but the flaws outweigh the positives. Shaman leans too much on clichés and takes too long to get interesting. Fans of religious-themed horror like The Exorcist might give it a try, but skipping it won’t hurt either. Shaman releases on Blu-Ray and DVD October 7th, courtesy of Well Go USA.