Overview
A tale of ambition and redemption unfolds in a time of turmoil and war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- austere
- foreboding
- elegant
- immersive movie night
- historical epic marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a thrilling and visually sumptuous wuxia epic, especially for its cinematography, choreography, and production design.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Commander Zi Yu uses Jing Zhou as a hidden double while competing factions maneuver around King Pei Liang.
The film uses monochrome gray interiors, rain, umbrellas, circular blades, and highly stylized set design to evoke Chinese ink painting.
Secret plans, court rivalry, loyalty, and choreographed combat are inseparable throughout the Three Kingdoms-era power struggle.
Madam Xiao Ai and the other palace women navigate violence, hierarchy, and limited avenues for redemption.
Films like Shadow, and why
Hero
stylized wuxia action, political intrigue, elaborate production design, and morally complex power struggles
Curse of the Golden Flower
Chinese historical spectacle, court politics, martial arts choreography, and striking color-driven visual design
Red Cliff
Three Kingdoms-era warfare, shifting loyalties, strategic ambition, and large-scale Chinese period action
The Assassin
elegant historical action, concealed identities, palace intrigue, and highly composed visual style
Movie Details
- Director
- Zhang Yimou
- Release Date
- 2018-09-30
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (475)
Cast
- Deng Chao
- Sun Li
- Ryan Zheng Kai
- Wang Qianyuan
- Wang Jingchun
- Hu Jun
- Guan Xiaotong
- Leo Wu
- Feng Bai
- Li Zhuoyang
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shadow about?
- A visually sumptuous wuxia power struggle turns a hidden double, palace intrigue, and secret military strategy into a duel over a lost homeland.
- What is Shadow like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shadow as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Shadow violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Shadow as brutal.
- What did critics think of Shadow?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a thrilling and visually sumptuous wuxia epic, especially for its cinematography, choreography, and production design.
- Which films are like Shadow?
- Films with a similar feel include Hero, Curse of the Golden Flower, Red Cliff, and The Assassin.
- How long is Shadow?
- Shadow runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shadow?
- In United States, Shadow streams on Amazon Prime Video, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel.
