Sometimes, less is more. Single room thrillers like Buried and Gerald’s Game exemplify this magnificently as they derive abundant entertainment value from smart dialogue, strong lead performances, and psychological terror. As Maude (Chloë Grace Moretz - Suspiria, The 5th Wave) converses with the crew of a fighter plane from the isolated Sperry she’s in, Shadow In The Cloud sets itself up to be one of those thrilling single room films. But in an unfortunate change of pace, the film instead uses its talent on a second and third act that replaces mystery and suspense with forgettable action and disappointing storytelling.

In Shadow In The Cloud, Maude hops on a WWII fighter plane at the last minute carrying a top secret package. Because of skepticism of her belonging on this flight, the crew places her in a ball turret beneath the plane, separating her from her package. This lengthy segment of the film plays out as a single room concept, with conversation through onboard comms peddling the narrative. As the flight goes on though, Maude notices something in the clouds, and it’s not long before her and the rest of the crew realize that something else is on board the plane with them. From here, Shadow In The Cloud transitions to a traditionally filmed action sequence where, for the crew, it’s a fight for survival. But Maude has only one priority in mind: protect the package.

The standout factor in Shadow In The Cloud is Chloë Grace Moretz, who gives a riveting performance as Maude. Donning a British accent and a fierce attitude, Chloë commands attention and upholds the entertainment value within this single-location space. There’s a moment when the package she’s protecting is threatened when she exclaims, “You have no idea how far I'll go!” It’s a phenomenal moment that defines the fortitude her character exhibits from beginning to end of the film as she’s actively discriminated against because of her gender.

It’s a ripe story to explore feminism at a time in history where Maude is forced to tolerate misogyny, crass humor, and unwarranted disrespect. For the most part, Maude is so authentically written to be a badass, especially in regards to the package she’s carrying and the mission she’s on. But for me, the message is overemphasized in the final act of the film - an act that comes off as entirely unnecessary in general.

The most egregious storytelling flaw in Shadow In The Cloud, however, is not knowing when or how to disclose the story’s biggest reveals. There are major twists that occur in the film, but they happen in the narrative at around the same time that the movie makes its unfortunate shift in filming style. And the climax borders on preposterous as Maude dangles on the underside of the flying plane like an extreme American Ninja Warrior. The action that ensues might suffice for some audiences, but fails to live up to the promising premise the film begins with.

Most of what I appreciated in the first half of the film disintegrates into forced and uninspired storytelling by the end. Forgetting that less is more was a fateful error for Shadow In The Cloud and ironically enough, as the plane these characters are aboard falls apart, so does this movie. But hey, what’s a plane ride without some turbulence?

AFI FEST 2020 | "Shadow In The Cloud" Flounders While Chloë Grace Moretz Stands Out