The Carpenter’s Son arrives in theatres as one of 2025’s most talked-about and divisive films: a short, intense supernatural-horror riff on the “lost years” of Jesus that blends faith, folklore and bloody spectacle.
Directed and written by Lotfy Nathan, the film stars Nicolas Cage as the Carpenter (Joseph), FKA twigs as the Mother (Mary), and Noah Jupe as the Boy — a teenager with strange gifts who becomes the target of a dark, supernatural force.
The picture is set in Roman-era Egypt and follows a close family trying to hide and protect the Boy, only to find their refuge invaded by visions, violence and spiritual warfare that escalate into explicit, shocking scenes. Magnolia Pictures is the U.S. distributor and the movie runs roughly 94 minutes.
The Carpenter’s Son Age Rating
MPA / U.S. rating: R — “strong/bloody violent content, and brief nudity.” That is the official classification reported by distributor materials and major film databases; the rating means viewers under 17 require an accompanying parent or guardian in a theatre.
Below we explain exactly what that R rating covers for this particular movie, break down the kinds of content you’ll encounter (violence, nudity, religious themes, language, emotional intensity), and offer practical guidance about which ages and viewers should avoid it or prepare before watching.
Synopsis
A family — the Carpenter, the Mother and their teenage “Boy” — hide in a rural Egyptian village after a violent flight. As the Boy grows, a mysterious teenager arrives and draws him away; strange powers and terrifying visions follow. The film frames the Boy’s coming-of-age as spiritual warfare: miracles and healings sit beside hallucinatory, bloody images and escalating attacks from demonic forces. The story interleaves intimate family moments with sudden, graphic shocks.
The Carpenter’s Son: Why Rated R? Parents Guide
The MPA descriptor for The Carpenter’s Son (R — “strong/bloody violent content, and brief nudity”) is a good shorthand, but parents want specifics.
Violence & gore (primary driver of the R rating). The movie contains multiple scenes of intense physical violence and visible bloody injuries. It includes infant and child endangerment imagery, grisly ritual-style moments, and at least one clearly graphic set piece described as “severe” or “bloody.” The film uses horror cinematography — closeups, sudden cuts, and lingering images — to amplify shock. If you (or a teen in your care) are unsettled by blood, mutilation, or scenes of ritual cruelty, this film will be difficult.
Brief nudity. There are moments of nakedness — brief in a non-sexual intent (for example, a woman bathing seen from a distance) — but because they occur alongside intense imagery they still weigh on the rating.
Religious themes and unsettling imagery. The movie freely reinterprets apocryphal material (the Infancy Gospel of Thomas) and stages confrontational, often disturbing theological scenes (visions, demonic figures, and imagery tied to early Christian lore). Some scenes deliberately court blasphemous or challenging framings — and that has already generated vocal backlash from religious groups. If religious faith is central to a viewer’s identity, the film may feel provocative or offensive.
Emotional intensity and moral ambiguity. The film is not an uncomplicated “good versus evil” exorcism story. Tonal muddiness and moral complexity: tender family moments exist beside confusion, suffering and ambiguous moral choices. That emotional weight — especially the depiction of infant and child peril — can be upsetting in ways that go beyond simple jump scares.
Language and other factors. Occasional use of harsh language; however, profanity is not the primary content concern here. Drugs and alcohol are not central to the story.
What parents should know (no spoilers)
- Opening / early images: The film opens with traumatic imagery — a violent public act connected to King Herod in the film’s historical framing — which sets a grim tone right away. The first 10–20 minutes include difficult-to-watch visuals
- Scenes of child or infant risk: There are sequences where babies or small children appear injured or ill; some scenes imply ritual harm and are filmed to be emotionally wrenching. Critics single out these moments as among the most disturbing.
- Bloody confrontations and supernatural set pieces: Later in the running time, the film stages physical fights and supernatural confrontations that are shown with blood and practical effects rather than off-screen suggestion. Expect visible wounds and startling imagery.
- Brief nudity: A bathing scene and a few fleeting shots that include nudity are described as brief and not exploitative, but their presence may be notable for some families.
How critics and audiences are reacting
Early critical reaction is mixed to negative: reviewers praise the ambition and atmospheric visuals but criticize inconsistent tone and what some call gratuitous or muddled shock-value. Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic early aggregates place the film in the low-to-mid range, with many critics calling the film muddled despite moments of real craft. Coverage in mainstream outlets also highlights the controversy: some Christian groups and online communities have already labelled the film blasphemous, while the director defends it as a meditation on faith and the human side of a mythic figure.
Who Should Watch The Carpenter’s Son and Who Should Skip?
Not recommended for:
- Children under 15. The combination of blood, infant/child peril, and religious shocks is emotionally intense and not appropriate for younger viewers.
- Sensitive teens (15–16) who are easily disturbed by gore, images of child harm, or films that reinterpret sacred figures provocatively
- Viewers for whom graphic depictions of injury, or films that challenge religious convictions, would cause distress.
May be appropriate for:
- Adults (18+) who watch horror and challenging cinema and can separate allegory from literal faith-based portrayals. The movie is made to provoke and to be discussed rather than enjoyed as simple entertainment.
For mature teens (16–17):
- If a teen has prior experience with R-rated horror and strong parental guidance, a joint parent-teen viewing with discussion afterward could be an option. Parents should pre-screen or read detailed guides before deciding.
Editor’s Verdict
The Carpenter’s Son is designed to be provocative. It deliberately blends sacred subject matter with genre horror to explore identity, power and doubt — and it does so in graphic, at times shocking ways that push it clearly into adult viewing territory. The official R rating accurately flags the key concerns: bloody violence, intense religiously charged imagery, and brief nudity.
For viewers who seek challenging, artful (if uneven) horror that asks questions about myth and sacrifice, it may be worth seeing. For families and younger viewers, the film’s content makes it a title to avoid or to approach only with informed, careful parental involvement. (Official Website: The Carpenter’s Son)