Nicolas Cage in Campy Biblical Horror

The charges of “Blasphemy!” are likely to come fast and furious for Lotfy Nathan’s supernatural horror film revolving around the life of the teenage Jesus. Based on the apocryphal “Infancy Gospel of Thomas” (which I confess I haven’t read), the film strains mightily for a seriousness that it never deserves. I mean, when you cast Nicolas Cage as “The Carpenter” and FKA Twigs as “The Mother,” you’re already kind of throwing in the towel.

Despite its handsome production values and an arresting performance by Isla Johnston (The Queen’s Gambit) as “The Stranger,” who turns out to be, wait for it, Satan, The Carpenter’s Son will please neither the faithful nor those looking for a more traditional fright film in which the Devil makes an appearance.

Set largely in “Anno Domini 15,” the story takes place in Roman-era Egypt, where Joseph and Mary (let’s not be coy about this) are going about their daily lives while being understandably protective of their 15-year-old son Jesus (Noah Jupe, reuniting with Twigs after Honey Boy). So Joseph gets understandably perturbed when his son begins hanging out with a mysterious stranger with haunting eyes.

“I play games all day. Will you play with me?” the stranger asks Jesus, which provides a subtle clue that he may be up to no good. Not to mention his propensity for playing with scorpions.

Soon enough, Jesus finds himself increasingly drawn to the stranger, much to his father’s consternation. “My faith has become a broken crutch!” Joseph exclaims, in the way that only Nicolas Cage can. The villagers are equally upset, becoming convinced that the carpenter’s son and his new friend are evil spirits. A reasonable assumption, considering that highly aggressive snakes are starting to emanate from people’s mouths. Meanwhile, Jesus understandably begins to suffer daddy issues: “Tell me who my father is!” he implores the stranger.

Writer-director Nathan (12 O’Clock Boys), who grew up in the Coptic Orthodox Church, seems to be sincere in his attempt to present a Biblical narrative from a very different perspective. The Carpenter’s Son is nothing if not solemn, presented with all the gravitas of a ‘50s-era religious epic as if directed by John Carpenter. The performers are equally committed, although Cage immediately sends out campy vibes. Not so much from his performance, which is relatively restrained, but his mere presence. That’s simply what happens when you cast the actor who starred in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and Mandy as Joseph.

Since Twigs and Jupe have no such cinematic baggage, they fare much better. But the real standout is Johnston, whose eyes are so mesmerizing that it’s easy to see why Jesus falls under the stranger’s spell. The actress, who will soon be playing the lead role in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming Joan of Arc pic, has such a compelling screen presence that stardom seems all but assured. Add to that the fact that she can deliver lines like “I am the accuser of light…I am the adversary” with utter conviction and you can see she’s going places.

For all its visual stylishness, The Carpenter’s Son feels like such an essentially misconceived project that it seems destined for future cult status, with audiences at midnight screenings shouting out the more outrageous lines in unison with the actors. Which may not be what the filmmaker intended, but sounds like a lot of fun.