Another Hole in the Head Film Festival 2024 Coverage
Agent of Light review
A surprising movie that remains quietly engaging from beginning to end.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers.
Angel of Light
Directed by Crue Smith
Written by Crue Smith
Starring Linds Edwards, David Brian Alley, Luke Atchley, Curt Willis, Kelly Shipe, Joe Casterline, Stephen Dupree and Jeff Ailshie
Angel of Light Review
Angel of Light manages to be a surprising movie despite rarely raising its voice. I’m not just saying that because of the foundation shaking shock that occurs about an hour into the movie…because we won’t be talking about that in this non-spoiler account of the picture. But you should be aware that Angel of Light packs a massive wallop to go along with its quiet intensity. What makes this movie so surprising is how confidently it unfurls its twisted story. The movie’s dark tone barely increases its heart rate while treading down unexpected pathways.
Tom (David Brian Alley) is an unassuming small town car salesman. His wife Linda (Kelly Shipe) is making him sleep in the basement. He received some devastating news from his doctor…and then discovers a possible solution in the form of a new Pastor (Linds Edwards) who appears capable of performing miracles.
Pastor Joel Brandum walks into Tom’s dealership looking to make a change. The pair strike up an easy conversation that motivates Tom to give his next service a try. He’s moved by the Pastor’s words…and confused when he sees the man sleeping in his car. With no hesitation, Tom invites him into his home and into his life. A decision that takes a turn when he watches Joel seemingly heal a man with his own eyes. Suddenly, Tom sees an opportunity to rid himself of the cancer that has put a short timer on his lifespan.
Angel of Light opens with Tom learning of his illness…and how little time he has left. It shows us that scene without a word being spoken. The movie handles its supernatural element with nearly the same steadiness and quiet voyeuristic angle. The worst moment of Tom’s life…and the moment he witnesses a miracle…both presented with an interesting sense of detachment. A coldness that hints towards Angel of Light’s true purpose. A decidedly darker purpose.
Joel is a fascinating character. A man of the cloth who seems unimpressed with his own lot in life…even with what appears to be a true gift from God. His true nature begins to show after Tom asks if he can be healed. Of course, the Pastor tells him. But it comes at a cost. Joel wants Tom’s wife. It’s an unexpected request…and it comes with even more unexpected repercussions. Angel of Light isn’t the movie you think it is. And it has a couple bigger turns yet to come.
These twists (and they are big enough to qualify as such) arrive with the same confidence and dark comfortability as a simple conversation about used cars. Life moves slowly in Angel of Light’s small town. Even when life shattering moves are being unleashed at every turn. The result is a film that manages to surprise you several times…while still lulling you into a false sense of security. An easy-going nightmare.
It even changes perspectives completely at one point. To that of Tom’s son…a character only briefly discussed a few times prior to popping up on camera. Angel of Light pulls the viewpoint out even further, even more detached, to show us the world from a true outsider’s perspective. As this perspective closes in on the truth about Joel…Angel of Light delivers its final unexpected turn. Something that recontextualizes everything that came before it. That quiet, unassuming lull it provided is stripped away. Leaving only the truth, and what’s left of the small-town family that opened its doors to a miracle.
If you’ve noticed that we’ve gotten this far into discussing Angel of Light without mentioning it as a religious movie despite all this talk about Pastors and miracles…there’s a good reason for that. This isn’t a story about faith. It isn’t concerned with preaching. Those concepts are simply how it gets in the door. What Angel of Light is really about is a mystery you aren’t aware that it’s keeping until you’ve already let it in.
Scare Value
I was constantly surprised by Angel of Light. It starts off in a very unassuming way and becomes more unnerving as it goes along. Some quiet surprises build to a shocking moment…and an unexpected conclusion. The story stays a step ahead while lulling you into a breezy comfortability. First with some good-natured characters…then with certainty that you know what’s going to happen next. It pulls that rug out in a big way.
