The Shadow (1994)
53%RT Audience Score: 44%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Bringing a classic pulp character to the big screen, The Shadow features impressive visual effects, but the story ultimately fails to strike a memorable chord
The Shadow” is a movie that’s as confusing as trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. Some critics say it’s a pleasant, nostalgic retreat to the days of crime-fighting, while others say it’s a failed attempt to revive a pulp hero who’s been passe for years. Personally, I think it’s like a rollercoaster ride – it has its ups and downs, but ultimately, it’s a fun time. Alec Baldwin’s performance gives the movie some cohesion, but the supporting cast is just as crackerjack. Sure, it may not strike the same chord as Batman, but it’s still worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some innocent exoticism and splendor of silent thrillers. Just don’t expect to solve that Rubik’s cube anytime soon.
Production Company(ies)
Plattform Produktion Film i Väst Essential Filmproduktion, GmbH,
Distributor
Universal
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
1994
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 42m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 1994 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2004
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Boyle, Ian McKellen, Tim Curry, directed by Russell Mulcahy, written by David Koepp, produced by Martin Bregman, Willi Bär, Michael Scott Bregman, action, adventure, box office, budget, PG-13, reviewed by Jack Yeovil, Owen Gleiberman, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Brian Lowry, Derek Adams, Caryn James, Mal Vincent, Mike Massie, Dennis Schwartz, John Tones, Nick Rogers, Alec B, Christopher H, Brendan O, superhero, New York, Shiwan Khan, Genghis Khan, Lamont Cranston, Margo Lane, Farley Claymore, Dr Reinhardt Lane, Moe Shrevnitz, visual effects, pulp character, dark past, world domination, mind manipulation, vigilante, crime fighting, Art Deco, Jerry Goldsmith, soundtrack, Universal, Surround, Stereo
Worldwide gross: $32,063,435
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $32,063,435
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
John Lone – Shiwan Khan
Penelope Ann Miller – Margo Lane
Peter Boyle – Moe Shrevnitz
Ian McKellen – Dr. Reinhardt Lane
Tim Curry – Farley Claymore
Director(s)
Russell Mulcahy
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Martin Bregman, Willi Bär, Michael Scott Bregman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (33)
A pleasant, eye-pleasing movie.
July 16, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Jack Yeovil
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The movie has all the coherence of a bad acid flashback.
July 6, 2010 | Rating: D
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
It has enough of the innocent exoticism and splendor of silent thrillers to suggest a continuity with the past missing from most other movies; all that’s required is a capacity to sit back and dream.
April 25, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Despite similarities as a vigilante creature of the night, however, the Shadow — a character that enjoyed its greatest success in radio after being created in pulp novels — lacks the visceral appeal of Batman and won’t strike the same chord.
April 25, 2007
Brian Lowry
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Baldwin’s low-key performance lacks charisma, Lone alternates between lip-smacking villainy and camp humour, and Miller is chiefly a clothes-horse for a series of slinky ’30s frocks.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It offers a diverting, nostalgic retreat to the innocent days when crime fighting was a pleasant, rich man’s hobby.
August 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Caryn James
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
The Shadow seeks to be another Batman. It is more likely to be another Doc Savage or Flash Gordon – both lackluster attempts to translate past pulp heroes into big-screen money.
February 25, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
For the most part, the film is simply boring.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 2/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It’s a failed attempt to revive a former pulp hero who has been passe for years.
January 13, 2020 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
The grandiose presence of Alec Baldwin manages to give cohesion to this little gem. [Full Review in Spanish]
July 11, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
John Tones
Espinof
Despite handsome production values and a crackerjack supporting cast, “The Shadow” remains a temperamental trinket that lacks the temerity to truly explore, as its titular hero would say, what evil truly lurks in the hearts of men.
July 1, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Very underrated and incredibly entertaining…
June 5, 2013
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
In 1988, Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces every nine years. But when the killer’s crimes begin to defy all scientific explanation, Locke’s obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Shadow features Alec Baldwin in the lead role as Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, a reformed criminal turned superhero.
Russell-Mulcahy.jpg
