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Above the Shadows

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Above the Shadows Released Jul 19, 2019 1h 45m Drama Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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70% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Holly has faded to the point of becoming invisible, but she has one chance to restore a disgraced MMA fighter, Shane Blackwell, to his former glory, and in doing so regain her foothold in the world around her.
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Above the Shadows

Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow AWFJ.org You might think that the combination of a delicate fantasy with MMA fight scenes would not work, but Claudia Myers brings it together seamlessly, with a sure sense of story and tone. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Courtney Howard Variety 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. Jul 19, 2019 Full Review Noel Murray Los Angeles Times 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. Jul 19, 2019 Full Review Jennifer Merin AWFJ.org Fine performances by Thrilby and Ritchson make the invisibility fantasy real enough for us to think about the trauma that marginalized - invisible - people experience. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Betsy Bozdech AWFJ.org Myers spins a unique story in Above the Shadows, exploring grief and identity in an almost comic book-like way. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Leslie Combemale AWFJ.org Above the Shadows is an interesting journey that is well worth taking. Oct 17, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (36) audience reviews
Audience Member UNSICHTBAR, TOD ODER IGNORIERT Holly kann nackt umher laufen wann immer sie will, denn niemand sieht sie und daher kann sie tun und lassen wonach ihr ist. Mit Fotos von untreuen Promis verdient sie ihr Geld, doch als eines Tages der ehemalige MMA Champ Shayne sie sieht entbrennen in Holly Gefühle, die sie seit dem Tod ihrer Mutter nicht mehr hatte. Above the Shadows von 2019 geht ca. 105 Minuten und ist eine Fantasy-Romanze mit unteranderem Alan Richtson in der Hauptrolle des knallharten MMA Kämpfers der aber natürlich einen weichen Kern hat. Im Grunde ist das alles hier recht süß, eine junge Frau die zwar alles tun kann aber dennoch nie Wärme, Geborgenheit oder Liebe erfahren hat endeckt rasant schnell alle diese Gefühle wegen Shayne. Allerdings ist die Chemie zwischen den Schauspielern nicht die allerbeste, die Grundlogik für ihr unsichtbar sein ist quasi nicht existent und wieso nur Shayne sie sehen kann wird auch nicht erklärt, kann mir zwar denken wieso ergibt aber dennoch keinen Sinn. Ist sie Tod, ein Geist, man weiss es nicht. Die ganze Story um Holly ist eh ziemlicher Unsinn, ihre Familie kennt sie nicht und sogar ihr Zimmer ist plötzlich eine Abstellkammer, als hätte sie nie existiert. Warum das so ist, vielleicht ein Drehbuch Trauma eines nie gesehenen mittleren Kindes, ich weiss es nicht, erklärt wird es nie. Alan Richtson beeindruckt wie immer durch seine Physis, wobei er hier definierter und weniger massig ist. Die Kämpfe selbst sind zwar kein Undispudit aber in Ordnung. Das Finale sprengt dann sämtliche Regeln, da aber nie erklärt wird was eigentlich mit Holly ist kann man dem Streifen auch nicht böse sein wenn er eine 180 Grad Drehung macht damit es ein Happy End gibt. Am Ende bleibt ein unterdurchschnittlicher Streifen der keine überzeugende Romantik hat, eine mehr als bescheuerte Grundidee besitzt und Alan Richtson ohne Shirt zu zeigen reicht halt bei weitem nicht. Von mir bekommt der Film 4,5/10 Punkten. Natürlich ist Liebe die Antwort auf alles, ist allerdings genauso kitschig und sinnlos wie im realen Leben. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/21/25 Full Review amy W I think the reviews for this should be far better. Every now and again you come across a film that is really good and this was one of them. It was mesmerising, well acted, not high budget but so well done. The performances from the actors were captivating and there was obvious chemistry between the two lead actors. It was a beautiful love story, with a little bit of magic thrown in and a story about triumph over adversity and grief. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/24 Full Review Michael T It's a solid b plus movie. They took the fantasy and ran with it and produced a realistically touching interpretation of what such an affliction would actually be like. Along with the fresh interpretation of the invisible person trope, the set design and world building was way more nuanced than I would expect for a fantasy romance. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/22/24 Full Review John O Spoilers: This confirms yet again what a gem Olivia Thirlby is, and I've liked her since I I first saw her on film years ago. It is no mean feat to play a fantastic parable or metaphor -- or simile as her Mom told her early on -- rather than straight narrative real life. She felt invisible because she was shattered by the grief of losing her Mom at age 12. And she played it out that way, as that grief forced her away from everyone mentally, emotionally. The creativity by writer/director Myers in making that forced distance from family and everyone alike into "real" invisibility was both risky and refreshing. And did Olivia and Ritchson ever pull it off. It was not explained how she got invisible or how Shane was the only one who could see Holly because it was inexplicable, almost magical, but really a plot device to pull us in and like her as much as Emma Stone in "La La Land," and Alan as much as Sly Stallone in "Rocky." The point is if you think life should be smooth with an attitude of what can life do for me, you are set up to be smashed, made invisible to not just others but also yourself in hard times. But if you can take the blows and ask what can I do for others despite my pain, everything turns around and you become visible again to others -- and to yourself. I cared about these characters. Bravo for both creative and bang-up storytelling. The metaphor of the mixed martial arts cage for planet Earth also worked, as Shane both saw and accepted the beauty of not just the training required but also the thought symphony of what to do and when, when wrestling is melded with kick boxing in the cage. With preparation, you can get through it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/28/24 Full Review Audience Member Being above the shadows is a curse Megan Fox, Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson star in a sports drama with a supernatural twist to it Director Claudia Myers makes a sort of 'Ghost' meets 'Rocky' Holly grew up with her parents and two siblings But her mother got sick and passed away; as the years rolled by Holly literally started fading out of existence with no one around noticing Her being visible and remembered was gone All grown up Holly now has a chance to help someone, in this case it's a disgraced MMA fighter Shane Blackwell If she succeeds she can perhaps regain her stance in the world It stinks that Megan Fox doesn't show up until an hour and 6 minutes in with only 2 scenes and this acts more like a drama The fights are far and few in between which is a shame I really would've preferred more fun too with the whole invisible aspect Plus we never see Holly interacting with her brother and sister face-to-face even as an adult giving proper closure But Myers' heart is in the right place having a look at trauma affect people even the marginalized ones making them feel invisible Profound grief and monumental loss is a universal thing the film touches upon I just wish this could've been a more exciting combination of two genres because I've seen it done better and less lagging Performers are good even if the ending is a bit contrived and there's no explanation for the supposed metaphor presented Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/19/24 Full Review John W Decent story and pretty good acting. Is it wrong that I think Alan Ritchson's best performance was Thad Castle? Regardless he's an underrated actor who may be overshadowed by his imposing size and look. It's also a pretty good morality play about the dangers of being self-centered....if one cared to see it. 😉 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Above the Shadows

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Movie Info

Synopsis Holly has faded to the point of becoming invisible, but she has one chance to restore a disgraced MMA fighter, Shane Blackwell, to his former glory, and in doing so regain her foothold in the world around her.
Director
Claudia Myers
Producer
Khris Baxter, Mark Schacknies, Tara Sickmeier
Screenwriter
Claudia Myers
Distributor
Gravitas Ventures
Production Co
Myriad Pictures, BondIt Media Capital
Genre
Drama, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 19, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 19, 2019
Runtime
1h 45m
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