Shadow

Shadow

The Battlefield in Ink.

Directed by Zhang Yimou

Produced by Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, LeVision Pictures

2018116 min6.7 / 10

A visually stunning wuxia thriller about deception and duality, where a commander manipulates a shadow-double to navigate court intrigue and war, steeped in paranoia and moral ambiguity.

In a kingdom ruled by a young and unpredictable king, the military commander has a secret weapon: a shadow, a look-alike who can fool both his enemies and the King himself. Now he must use this weapon in an intricate plan that will lead his people to victory in a war that the King does not want.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is Shadow violent? Yes. More violent than 88% of films.

  • Is Shadow scary? Yes. More frightening than 87% of films.

  • Is Shadow sad? Yes. More sad than 82% of films.

  • Does Shadow end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 64% of films.

  • Is Shadow easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

44/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity80

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise12

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love55

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Shadow, and what each one shares →

Like Shadow

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Shadow

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Shadow, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Shadow, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Shadow, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

Share thisXBlueskyReddit