Shadow In The Cloud is an upcoming action-horror film from director Roseanne Liang, starring Chloe Grace Moretz (Carrie, Kick-Ass, The Fifth Wave) as Captain Maude Garrett, a pilot fighting in World War II.
Join us here at The Illuminerdi as we analyze the first full length trailer for the film.
Shadow in the Cloud Official Trailer
The trailer opens with Maude Garrett boarding a B-17 bomber called “The Fool’s Errand”. As the only female aboard the ship, she is immediately met with hostility and sexism from her male crewmates. She tells her crewmates that she is guarding a secret item, though the trailer does not reveal exactly what that item is.
As the story picks up steam, a fantastic eighties synth track plays. Maude goes into a gunning position. After announcing that she is a pilot and a flight mechanic, she’s told “you’re not a pilot, you’re a delivery girl”.
Garrett requests permission to fire on an enemy attacker, and is told that “you wouldn’t even know how to fire a gun”. Much to the surprise of the other backwards soldiers on the film, she successfully blows the enemy aircraft out of the sky.
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This is where things get nuts. The air corps member’s exclaim, “What the hell is that racket?” before a grotesque monster attacks, attempting to pull Garrett out of the very plane.
The trailer continues in that fashion until it concludes. Cue aerial action, creepy monster attacks, followed by sexism which is then combated by the empowering Captain Maude Garrett, then repeat.
SHADOW IN THE CLOUD BLENDS TWO VERY DISTINCT GENRES
Shadow In The Cloud is an interesting fusion of two very different styles. This seems to be a feminist period piece set in World War II that doubles as a creature feature. While I have no idea how that will work in practice, it’s an extremely bold and unique idea and I can’t help but respect that.
I really dig the design of the monsters, and I love a good dogfight, so this trailer definitely has me excited. Chloe Grace Moretz is one of the best young actors in the industry, and I have no doubt that she will deliver a fantastic performance as the snappy underdog and pilot.
Truthfully, my only concern for the movie is that the empowerment will come off as a bit heavy-handed. I was reminded of the scene in Captain Marvel where Carol Danvers is told “there’s a reason it’s called a cockpit”, and that line really didn’t land if you ask me.
I hope and pray that this movie provides viewers with a thrilling story and a strong, authentic female lead. I expect that director Roseanne Liang has created something that is genuinely relevant, uplifting, and inspiring. Despite that, this trailer does make me wonder if certain scenes will come across as pandering instead of empowering.
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Joining Chloe Grace Moretz in the cast are Nick Robinson (Jurassic World, Love, Simon) as Stu Beckell, and Callan Mulvey (Batman V Superman) as Captain John Reeves.
Shadow In The Cloud arrives in theaters on January 1, 2021. Let us know what you thought of the trailer in the comments below or on our social media!
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