Above the Shadows

Between the endless list of sci-fi options, Above the Shadows in Australia on Beamafilm, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla is the one that earns the time. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 201 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Olivia Thirlby sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Put it on tonight on Beamafilm and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Above the Shadows is worth clearing space for. Above the Shadows treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. A young woman who has faded to the point of becoming invisible must find her way back with the help of the one man who can see her. Olivia Thirlby and Alan Ritchson lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Above the Shadows came out in 2019. What separates Above the Shadows from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Above the Shadows a chance. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Olivia Thirlby's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.

Above the Shadows was released in 2019, directed by Claudia Myers. The full 111-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.