SHAMAN - Ecuadorian possession film has a fresh genre spirit

A Missionary converting an Indigenous Community in a remote Ecuadorian volcano must come to terms with her own Faith when her son is possessed by dark forces.

Latin Horror had the opportunity to watch ‘SHAMAN’, a new demonic horror flick from the Colombian director Antonio Negret (Overdrive, Seconds Apart) and the Executive Producer of ‘Talk to Me’ (2022).

‘SHAMAN’ opens up in a small village by the Chimborazo volcano in the country of Ecuador, where a missionary family are spreading and converting native Ecuadorians to the Christian God. Lead by members of the faith, Candice (Sara Cunning) a loving mother with no boundaries, Joel (Daniel Gillies) a dad who’s a recovering drug addict and Father Meyer (Alejandro Fajardo) a priest that is full of doubt and scars.

Much like other ‘Exorcist’-tinged films, ‘SHAMAN’ follows the tropes of the sub-genre. Elliot (Jett Kline), the son of Candice and Joel, is playing with a gliding toy airplane with two native friends. The airplane flies into a mysterious cave that puts fear into the native children. The naive Elliot disregards any warning and ventures into the creepy cave where he encounters Supay, The God of Death!

“LIFE FIRE NEEDS OXYGEN, DEATH NEEDS LIFE.”

And just like that, a Supay induced Elliot goes throughout the film causing horrific terror that will destroy the town’s faith–its families–and church members. There is tons of jump scares that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Candice’s only hope to get her son back is Father Meyer. But in their way is the Shaman (Humberto Morales) who tells them, “Your God doesn’t have powers here.” From here on, Father Meyer and Candice religiously battle The God of Death as well as the Native beliefs of the Shaman.

This is when the story takes an interesting and refreshing path, as the Christian God comes face-to-face with a more powerful God: A spirit that’s older than Christian religion itself. Which leads to one of the most EVIL twisted ending to a movie that you don’t see coming. A conclusion that will have your jaw dropping, and talking to your buddies days after about all the implications of this film. And because of this story’s approach the ‘SHAMAN’ is 100% worth the watch.

“WHEN GOD IS SILENT. YOU CAN’T BE.”

The ‘SHAMAN’ will be released both in Selected Theaters and On Demand on AUGUST 8th, 2025. Meanwhile check out the Preview Clip, Trailer and Poster below.