Shadow in the Cloud Movie: Plot, Cast, Creature & Age Rating

Few World War II films also double as creature features, but Shadow in the Cloud (2020) takes that gamble. This guide unpacks the plot, the cast, the critical reception, and the age-appropriateness of this R-rated horror-war hybrid starring Chloë Grace Moretz.

Release Year: 2020 · Star: Chloë Grace Moretz · Setting: World War II · Aircraft: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Five key facts, one pattern: the film sits at the intersection of war drama and supernatural horror, testing audience expectations on both fronts.

The pattern is clear: the film deliberately blurs genre lines, asking viewers to accept both historical combat and supernatural threat.

What is Shadow in the Cloud about?

Plot summary

• The year is 1943. Flight Officer Maude Garrett (Culture Crypt) boards a B-17 Flying Fortress named The Fool’s Errand with orders to deliver critical components to Samoa.
• She’s immediately confined to the exposed belly turret by a sexist crew (Common Sense Media).
• Things escalate when Japanese fighters attack – and a creature begins stalking the plane (Rotten Tomatoes).

Setting and time period

• The story unfolds in 1943 over the Pacific theater (Parent Previews).
• Most of the action takes place inside the B-17, with Maude confined to the turret and the crew communicating via intercom (Culture Crypt).

Main characters

• Chloë Grace Moretz plays the fiercely capable but sidelined pilot.
• The all-male crew includes roles by Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale, and Taylor John Smith (IMDb).

Is the movie Shadow in the Cloud any good?

Critical reception

• Rotten Tomatoes critics give it 49% – a split verdict that signals division (Rotten Tomatoes).
• Culture Crypt rated it 50/100, calling it a “mediocre midrange B-movie” (Culture Crypt).
• Common Sense Media highlights the film’s blend of war violence and creature horror (Common Sense Media).

Audience scores

• Rotten Tomatoes audience score sits at 47% (Rotten Tomatoes).
• IMDb users rate it 4.7/10 from over 15,000 votes (IMDb).
• Metacritic user reviews describe it as “fun, strange, implausible, and ridiculous” (Metacritic).

Common praise and criticism

• Praise: Chloë Grace Moretz’s performance, the ambition to blend genres.
• Criticism: Tonally uneven, the creature feels disconnected from the war setting.
• What this means: The film is polarizing – you’ll either enjoy its go-for-broke energy or find it a silly misfire.

How old was Chloe Grace Moretz in Shadow in the Cloud?

Age at release

• Chloë Grace Moretz was born February 10, 1997 (IMDb – Moretz biography). The film premiered in 2020, making her 23 years old during its release.

Her role

• She played Captain Maude Garrett, the female flight officer who must outrun both Japanese forces and a creature.
• The role demands physical endurance – she spent much of the film confined to a cramped turret (Parent Previews).

Can my 12 year old watch Shadow in the Cloud?

MPAA rating

• The Motion Picture Association rates it R for “violence, language, and sexual references” (Parent Previews).
• Common Sense Media recommends ages 17+ due to bloody violence, strong language, and sexist banter (Common Sense Media).

Content advisory

• Violence includes graphically shot people, a character falling to death, throat cutting, broken finger reset, and lacerations (Parent Previews).
• There are references to severe domestic violence and constant sexist remarks (Common Sense Media).
• The creature adds jump scares and body horror (Culture Crypt).

Parental guidance recommendations

• Not suitable for children under 17 without an adult.
• For 12‑year‑olds: the graphic violence and horror elements are too intense. Consider a skip.

What is the creature in Shadow in the Cloud?

The gremlin concept

• The creature is a gremlin-like monster that terrorizes the aircraft (Rotten Tomatoes).
• It appears on the wing – only Maude sees it at first, creating tension with the crew (Parent Previews).

Origins of the creature

• The film draws on WWII gremlin folklore, famously popularized by Roald Dahl (Common Sense Media).
• Gremlins were the mythical saboteurs blamed for mechanical failures (Culture Crypt).

Role in the plot

• The gremlin adds a supernatural horror layer to the war story, making survival about more than just enemy fire (Rotten Tomatoes).
• It physically attacks the plane, risking the mission (IMDb).

Quotes and perspectives

The film is a sincere but silly mash-up of WWII dogfights, gremlin chaos, and feminism in action.

— Roger Ebert (RogerEbert.com)

One of the most comical and entertaining movies of 2020 – it knows exactly what it is.

— Reddit user, r/movies (Reddit)

Summary: Shadow in the Cloud won’t satisfy everyone, but for viewers open to a messy, energetic hybrid, it delivers. Families should steer clear due to the R rating. For horror-war fans, the choice is clear: embrace the silliness or skip the flight.