The Director of a Controversial Horror Movie About Jesus Insists It’s ‘Not as Evil as People Are Assuming’

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Creating a horror film centered around Jesus Christ was always going to be challenging. However, Lofty Nathan, the writer and director of The Carpenter’s Son, isn’t certain his movie actually fits neatly into the horror genre. He admits it’s “a bit tricky” to categorize, but acknowledges it “tow[s] the line.”

Now playing in theaters, The Carpenter’s Son tells the story of a 15-year-old Jesus (Noah Jupe) as he starts to realize he has the power to heal people. Things get complicated when a mysterious girl (Isla Johnston) tries to convince him that Joseph isn’t his real father, leading to tension between Jesus and his earthly father, a carpenter.

The film focuses on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, but intentionally avoids using their names, referring to them as ‘the son,’ ‘the mother,’ and ‘the carpenter’ instead. Director Nathan explains this wasn’t meant to be misleading. He felt the characters are easily identifiable and that using these titles helped create a sense of mystery and focus on Jesus’ humble beginnings, portraying him simply as a carpenter’s son.

The new film The Carpenter’s Son is sparking debate, similar to past movies about Jesus like Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ, Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, Kevin Smith’s Dogma, and Terry Jones’ Monty Python and the Life of Brian. The controversy stems from its graphic horror elements and its source material: the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. This ancient text, not included in the Bible, recounts stories from Jesus’ childhood and is considered questionable or even offensive by some.

Nathan’s father first introduced him to the book. He showed Nathan an old copy of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and Nathan immediately thought it would make a great film. He found it fascinating because it filled a gap in the story of Jesus’ early life – a period not covered in the traditional New Testament. He admits he hadn’t known about these types of ancient, non-canonical texts before.

As I dug into the research for The Carpenter’s Son, I was honestly pretty shocked by some of the stuff I found, especially within the Bible itself. It was surprisingly dark, and that really pushed me to lean into a genre approach with the film. It could have been much more controversial, actually. If I’d stuck closer to the Infancy Gospel, it would have been a lot more sensational, and honestly, presented a less sympathetic version of the story. Instead, I focused on the core idea of Jesus’ lost years and started imagining the relationship between Joseph and Jesus – a troubled father-son dynamic, a real feud. Everything with the mysterious stranger and how the story unfolds at the end? That’s all me, my own invention building on those initial ideas.

Nathan doesn’t identify as very religious, explaining that he feels more fear of God than faith in God. However, he grew up in the Coptic Orthodox Christian tradition. He recalls being fascinated by an ancient manuscript of non-canonical texts at the Coptic Orthodox Museum in Cairo, sparking his interest in the hidden meanings and unwritten stories surrounding the Bible. He reflects that while people often question these things when they’re young, they tend to stop as they get older.

Much of the debate around the film The Carpenter’s Son stems from its portrayal of Jesus as a flawed and relatable character. While some religious groups, like Catholics, believe Jesus was divine and without weakness, the film depicts him as human, struggling with doubt, frustration, and anger as he comes to terms with his powers and the world. Director Nathan explains he believes making Jesus’s sacrifice even more powerful if he also experienced inner turmoil. The film’s marketing as a horror movie has also drawn criticism, with many online expressing discomfort. Nathan acknowledges this reaction, admitting the genre choice might be unsettling for some, but emphasizes that horror is simply a storytelling technique. He insists he wouldn’t have approached the story as pure horror, as he felt that would be inappropriate.

The film The Carpenter’s Son has faced a wave of negative reviews and comments online, with many people calling it offensive and demanding it be pulled. The director, Nathan, even received a death threat before the movie came out. He’s disappointed to see such strong reactions and calls for censorship, especially in the U.S. in 2025, but he supports the principle of free speech, famously stating, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Despite some criticism, Nathan stands by his film, The Carpenter’s Son. He explains, “Many religious films and depictions of Christianity are very traditional and safe. I wanted to create something a little different – something I felt was interesting and worth doing.”

Even with all the controversy, Nathan thinks audiences might have a different reaction to the film. He explains that some Christian groups already disagree with the idea of Jesus being portrayed as fully human, which is a central theme in the movie. However, he insists the film isn’t as problematic as some fear and doesn’t venture into the extreme territory of older texts like the Infancy Gospel.

Says Nathan, “Ultimately, there’s a character who I hope people find relatable in some way.” 

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2025-11-15 01:06