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Shapeshifter

  • 1999
  • PG
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
2.9/10
366
YOUR RATING
Paul Alexander Nolan in Shapeshifter (1999)
AdventureFamilyFantasySci-Fi

Alex Brown inherits the awesome task of saving his ex-secret agent parents and protecting the planet from evil powers bent on controlling the world's plutonium supply. To do this Alex uses h... Read allAlex Brown inherits the awesome task of saving his ex-secret agent parents and protecting the planet from evil powers bent on controlling the world's plutonium supply. To do this Alex uses his new found magical shapeshifting power.Alex Brown inherits the awesome task of saving his ex-secret agent parents and protecting the planet from evil powers bent on controlling the world's plutonium supply. To do this Alex uses his new found magical shapeshifting power.

  • Director
    • Philippe Browning
  • Writer
    • Louis DeLoach
  • Stars
    • Paul Alexander Nolan
    • Bill MacDonald
    • Catherine Blythe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    2.9/10
    366
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Philippe Browning
    • Writer
      • Louis DeLoach
    • Stars
      • Paul Alexander Nolan
      • Bill MacDonald
      • Catherine Blythe
    • 12User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos5

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    Top cast20

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    Paul Alexander Nolan
    Paul Alexander Nolan
    • Alex
    • (as Paul Nolan)
    Bill MacDonald
    • Gelardis
    Catherine Blythe
    • Cyberwitch
    Emmanuelle Vaugier
    Emmanuelle Vaugier
    • Anika
    Theodor Danetti
    Theodor Danetti
    • Janos
    Serban Celea
    Serban Celea
    • Petrov
    George Ilie
    • Dwarf
    Andrei Finti
    Andrei Finti
    • Mark Brown
    Marioara Sterian
    • Dana Brown
    Mihai Dinvale
    • Maximov
    Tudor Chirila
    Tudor Chirila
    • Teen #1
    Mihnea Trusca
    Mihnea Trusca
    • Teen #2
    Gabriela Codrea
    • Customs Agent
    Adrian Ciobanu
    • Field Officer
    Mirceac Tinescu
    • Medic
    Mihai Razus
    • Guard #1
    Nelu Caragea
    • Guard #2
    Felix Totolici
    • Storekeeper
    • Director
      • Philippe Browning
    • Writer
      • Louis DeLoach
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    2.9366
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    Featured reviews

    10kevinahoffman

    The Most Absurd Film In The World (Eraserhead Aside)

    I don't know where to begin. This film is RIDICULOUS. I give it a 10/10 for the reason that I have never seen a more ridiculous movie. Shapeshifter would be great to incorporate into a beer drinking game with friends. Most people would turn this off within the first 2 minutes, but when you're someone like me who spends the entire daylight of Saturday recovering from the prior evening's drunken rampage, and something that seems thoroughly wasteful presents itself to you, you take hold of it for all it's worth (long sentence, huh?). This movie was truly hilarious (although it doesn't intend to be at all). I have the feeling that it was based on a dream some 9-year-old had after a night of eating peanut butter and cheese whiz. Then, the 9-year-old told the dream to his dad (who is a film producer) and, since the film producer had nothing better to do, gives into the kid and does it (which is the final blow necessary in thoroughly destroying his career). I would LOVE to own this movie on DVD with extensive commentary (and deleted footage) so that someone involved in this undertaking can explain to me what they were thinking.

    If you are an impatient person with a busy life, then you will definitely NOT want to spend any money or time on this film. However, if you're a goofy bum like me, this movie will make your day. ENJOY!.
    5N.Bradley

    Could have been better, expected more

    The mix of magic and technology was not handled nearly as well as I anticipated. The ability of the main character to shapeshift into any creature just by seeing a picture of it.

    Later in the movie the title character was able to 'dissolve' into data and go fight a 'cyberwitch'. This ability was never completely explained as to how this is possible.

    For pre-teens, these are probably minor points that many would not catch.
    2AIVAS

    WOW - Talk about bad acting!!!

    An interesting plot just not well carried out.

    It was capable of keeping my attention for it's length but just barely. The commercials were a welcomed break!

    Talk about bad acting!

    I've seen bad acting but this was worse!!!
    8heathpark-86341

    Amazingly terrible, horrifically amazing, and spectacularly awful

    Another so bad it's good film. The added chaos and absolute randomness makes for a pretty entertaining flick. The acting in this movie makes 'the room' look Oscar worthy and makes for some good laughs.
    2Bernie4444

    Wicked digital "witch of the west" Romania?

    Alex (Paul Nolan) belongs to a family of parents being ex-spies for the CIA. However, a nasty evil leader of an East European country with solicited help from a witch (Catherine Blythe) decides to capture them and squeeze out some info. Naturally, it is up to their son to rescue them. Only this is a big kid older than most teenyboppers are.

    While he is searching for his parents, he stays in a hostel. There is a coming-of-age cutie (Emmanuelle Vaugier) and an old dude that found a magical, digital rock as a kid assist him. Alex soon conveniently learns he can shapeshift.

    Can his shifty shapes and his cutie friend help him extricate his parents?

    What is the shifty witch really up to?

    Will he keep his new pet rock and/or the cutie?

    I know this is a pilot for a kid's series (probably to replace Alex Mac) but how dumb do you think kids are? Do not answer that. Believe me, kids would barf if you tried to feed them this pseudoscience, quasi-mystical (explicatory deleted.)

    Aside from this the acting, what acting? Well, where there should have been acting, they use fake Romanian accents. The witch looks like the cousin to the woman who narrates "Mystery Science Theater 3000."

    The props are just junk leftover from "Lost in Space" (the TV series). The story has no cohesion. They must be banking on the viewer having attention deficit disorder. Once again, we have a story where the kid is much cleverer than his catatonic parents are.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The film's trailer reuses the main title theme music from Invisible: The Chronicles of Benjamin Knight (1993).
    • Connections
      Featured in Best of the Worst: Playing Dangerous, Shapeshifter, and Thunderpants (2013)

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    FAQ

    • How long is Shapeshifter?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • Romania
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shifter
    • Filming locations
      • Bucharest, Romania
    • Production companies
      • Canarom Productions
      • Castel Film Romania
      • Pulsepounders
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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