There has been very little written about Jesus’ teenage years, with no record in the Bible of Jesus from the age of twelve to thirty. The same can be said of films on the same matter. Inspired by the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal gospel about the childhood of Jesus, The Carpenter’s Son attempts to fill some of the gaps about what Jesus might have been up to in his teenage years, with a Horror twist.
Released in theaters on November 14, 2025, through Magnolia Pictures, The Carpenter’s Son is the third feature film from Director Lofty Nathan (12 O’Clock Boys 2013, Harka 2022), and stars Nicolas Cage (Con Air 1997, National Treasure 2004) as the eponymous carpenter. When he and his wife ‘The Mother’ (FKA twigs: Honey Boy 2019, The Crow 2024), witness Roman soldiers taking newborn baby boys and throwing them unceremoniously onto a bonfire, they escape into the darkness with their tiny son.
Years later, and now living in a remote Egyptian village, their son ‘The Boy’ (Noah Jupe: A Quiet Place 2018, Honey Boy 2019) is fifteen and dealing with pretty typical teenage problems as well as some not-so-typical ones. Namely, an overly strict father, an overly protective mother, and some unusual abilities that let him heal the sick.
However, when more horrifying and inexplicable events begin to take place, the village starts to turn against The Boy. Eventually, his parents are forced to tell him who he really is, a revelation that he understandably does not take overly well. The Boy is left to decide whether to use his powers for good or be tempted to use them for his own means – a decision made all the more difficult by strange encounters with a mysterious girl who tempts him at every turn.
The Carpenter’s Son is a difficult film to categorize. Whilst not offensive enough to be deemed sacrilegious, it is also not necessarily a film that will appeal to religious audiences. Conversely, the horror elements are not strong enough to say that this is a particularly compelling Horror film either.
It is probably not particularly surprising to hear that Nicolas Cage feels miscast. Whilst the rest of the cast uses Received Pronunciation, Cage sports his famous Californian drawl. Aside from that, Cage adopts the overly dramatic, exaggerated performance for which he is well known. In contrast, FKA twigs’ performance is remarkably understated, almost wooden. When you place these two performances beside each other, the result is that each actor feels like they are in a different film. Jupe is arguably the best here and is engaging as The Boy, but the story ultimately lets him down.
Overall, The Carpenter’s Son has an interesting premise, and in moments it is intriguing and engaging. But for the most part, it feels too mixed in its execution to garner any real depth or response. While some might feel Cage does not really belong here, super fans might get a kick out of seeing him take on the role of Jesus’ adoptive father, or this might appeal to those who are specifically curious about what Jesus might have been up to as a teenager. As it is, Cryptic Rock gives The Carpenter’s Son 3 out of 5 stars.
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