The Carpenter's Son
| The Carpenter's Son | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lotfy Nathan |
| Written by | Lotfy Nathan |
| Based on | Infancy Gospel of Thomas by Thomas the Apostle |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Simon Beaufils |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Lorenz Dangel |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
| Countries | France United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $141,291[2] |
The Carpenter's Son is a 2025 supernatural thriller film[3][4] written and directed by Lotfy Nathan and starring actors Nicolas Cage, FKA Twigs, Noah Jupe and Souheila Yacoub.[5] The film is based on the early years of Jesus Christ as chronicled in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas.[5]
The film was released in the United States on November 14, 2025.
Cast
- Nicolas Cage as The Carpenter (Joseph)[5]
- FKA Twigs as The Mother (Mary)[5]
- Noah Jupe as The Boy (Jesus)[5]
- Souheila Yacoub as Lilith[5]
- Isla Johnston as The Stranger (Satan)[6]
Production
In May 2024, it was announced that Cage, FKA Twigs, Jupe and Yacoub were cast in the film.
Filming began and occurred in Sfakia, Preveli and Megara (all in Greece) in August and September 2024.[7][8][9] During filming, Cage was reportedly attacked by a swarm of bees in one of the caves intended to be a filming location.[10]
In May 2025, Magnolia Pictures acquired US distribution rights to the film.[11]
Director Lotfy Nathan is of Coptic Christian background. In an interview he said that "for a lot of Coptic Christians–which is where I come from–they wouldn’t abide the idea of Jesus having human doubt and the potential of sin, but for me to depict that, that makes for a picture of him that’s easier to identify with, which is actually a good thing."[12]
Release
The Carpenter's Son was released in the United States on November 14, 2025.[13]
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 33% approval rating based on 57 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Carpenter's Son is peculiar enough to hold some cult appeal, but for all the promise this biblical horror's conception holds, its execution proves far from immaculate."[14] On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 40/100, based on 18 critics.[15]
The Guardian awarded the film two stars out of a possible five, describing it as "a bafflingly acted and messily made bore ... a messy and atonal, if mercifully short, waste of eye-catching locations".[16]
Bans
The film was banned in the Philippines by the MTRCB after it deemed its presentation of Jesus Christ as "rebellious, malicious, or seemingly under demonic influence", along with "contemptuous" and "violent, sexual, or degrading" portrayals of religious imagery and figures as offensive to Christian values.[17]
References
- ^ "The Carpenter's Son (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "The Carpenter's Son". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ https://nerdreactor.com/the-carpenters-son-interview-noah-jupe-lotfy-nathan-on-darkness-faith-and-humanity/
- ^ https://deadline.com/2025/11/indie-films-opening-the-carpenters-son-osgood-perkins-keeper-1236617981/
- ^ a b c d e f Goodfellow, Melanie (May 6, 2024). "Nicolas Cage, FKA Twigs & Noah Jupe To Play Holy Family In Lotfy Nathan's 'The Carpenter's Son' – Cannes Market Hot Project". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9548332/
- ^ Tsoni, Paula (October 19, 2024). "Nicolas Cage Seen At Piraeus Restaurant During Shooting Break". Greek Reporter. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (September 9, 2024). "Nicolas Cage Stars in "Carpenter's Son," Shot in Greece". Greek Reporter. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ "Σκηνικό… Χόλιγουντ στα Χανιά – Ολοκληρώθηκαν τα γυρίσματα της νέας ταινίας του Νίκολας Κέιτζ". August 18, 2024.
- ^ "Nicolas Cage in Greece for filming of 'The Carpenter's Son'". The Greek Herald. September 13, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ D’Alessandro, Anthony (May 9, 2025). "Magnolia Takes Nicolas Cage, FKA Twigs & Noah Jupe Young Jesus Christ Pic 'The Carpenter's Son' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ "Unto Us A Scary Child Is Born".
- ^ "'The Carpenter's Son' – AMC Theatres". AMC Theatres. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ^ "The Carpenter's Son". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ "The Carpenter's Son Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (November 14, 2025). "The Carpenter's Son review – Nicolas Cage is predictably miscast in dull biblical horror". The Guardian. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ "MTRCB bans biblical horror 'The Carpenter's Son' from public screening". Rappler. Retrieved December 1, 2025.