• Release year: 2025
• Director: Garret Replogle.
• Producer: Garret Replogle.
• Screenplay by: Garret Replogle and William Shakespeare.
• Cinematography by: Patrick Snitchler.
• Music by: Josh Rodriguez.

Shotgun Commentary: confusing but endearing.

Review

Shakespeare’s the Tempest is the type of film you’d expect from a Shakespeare’s book club. And no, that is not necessarily a critique, merely a fact. The story has romance, action, comedy, and adventure. All the necessary elements for a good time, regardless of its budget.

Think different

For those of you who don’t know Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest”, it tells the story of Prospero. In particular, his vengeance plan to torment the survivors of a ship wreck with the help of his slaves on a magic island. In this feature, that tale is spun into a sci-fi narrative with spaceships instead of regular ships and a whole planet instead of an island. Everything else is still pretty much the same.

In a world of sequels, prequels and remakes, it is refreshing to see a re-imagining of a classic. Particularly, then it is not one of the top 3 best hits of a classic author. This feature doesn’t only shine a light on a less popular Shakespeare play, it also brings its own quirky spin on it. Thus, making it engaging for audiences that might not necessarily be drawn in by The Bard’s work alone.

Rocky start, sandy development

The story begins very much like a Star Trek (1966-1969) episode, a ship in disarray experiencing heavy turbulence in space while its colourfully-dressed crew runs around like a headless chicken. The conversations might be confusing for anyone who’s never heard a Shakespeare play before, but they are also slightly hard to understand for people who have.

Subtitles are a must when the background noise impedes proper hearing and the language is just unique enough to require a few minutes to get on the same wave length. As such, it is a pity to miss a few conversations that seemed hilarious by the snippets you can hear while you are getting used to the format. Luckily, this matter is resolved rather quickly.

Once the spaceship crashes, you are transported to a Tatooine-looking (Star Wars franchise) planet where Nichole Sporcich, who plays Miranda, does her best impersonation of Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, 1977). Miranda is Prospero’s daughter and the love interest of Ferdinand (Daniel MacDonald). Both Miranda and Ferdinand are the offspring of two people in a feud, making Ferdinand an indirect enemy of Prospero, which causes a bit of friction, but not in a relevant way.

Balance is key

The love story, while pretty average, is dosed with just enough humour to not become tedious, not to mention that it is also interspersed with another two storylines. The first, a hilarious tale featuring three rogue companions. And the second, a deliciously over-the-top drama courtesy of the survivors of the spaceship (minus Ferdinand, that is). Each of the tales has its own genre, but they all come together sooner or later, making the experience entertaining and rounded.

All in all, Shakespeare’s the Tempest is a fun feature with zero budget but a lot of heart. The crew had fun making it, and this attitude is contagious just by watching it on screen.  Don’t expect high-end special effects, or fancy-looking clothes and props, but do get ready for a wholesome re-imagining of a classic made with care and devotion.

Shakespeare’s the Tempest was part of the Raindance Film Festival 2025 programme. Find all the info here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• You don’t need a big budget when you have a motivated crew.
• Always bring alcohol to meet alien civilisations.
• Always do your movie, don’t let anybody stop you. At the very least, it will be one hell of a time!

What’s your take? Have you watched Shakespeare’s the Tempest? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀