Watch Lear's Shadow

Lear's Shadow, which debuted in 2018, is a film that explores the intricate relationships between family members while also delving into themes of grief and loss. The movie is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear, with a darker and more intimate look at the family dynamics. The movie begins with a wealthy CEO, Fred Lear, played by David Blue, facing a downturn in his company's fortunes. He decides to divide his wealth equally among his three daughters, in a bid to secure their future. However, his decision is not entirely selfless. Lear is still grappling with the loss of his beloved wife, and his actions are driven by a sense of guilt for not being there for her in her final moments.

Fred's oldest daughter, Goneril, played by Katie Peabody, is a highly ambitious businesswoman who is fiercely independent. The middle daughter, Regan, portrayed by Fred Cross, is a more nurturing presence, and has always been the peacemaker in the family. The youngest daughter, Cordelia, played by Talia Gordon, is a struggling artist who has always been the black sheep of the family.

Things quickly spiral out of control when Fred realizes that his daughters' motivations for accepting his generosity are not entirely pure. Long-held resentments and rivalries are brought to the fore, and the siblings soon find themselves at odds with each other. Meanwhile, Lear's increasing paranoia and erratic behavior suggest that he is slowly losing touch with reality.

One of the major themes of the movie is the struggle between loyalty to family and to one's own self-interest. Lear's Shadow shows us how familial bonds can be a double-edged sword, capable of bringing people together just as easily as they can tear them apart. The movie is also a meditation on the nature of grief and how it can cloud our judgment and lead us to make decisions that are not necessarily in our best interests.

The performances in the movie are uniformly excellent, with David Blue in particular delivering a commanding and nuanced performance as the troubled patriarch. The other actors also do a great job of bringing their characters to life, with Fred Cross and Katie Peabody delivering standout performances as Lear's two older daughters.

The movie is also visually stunning, with its dark and moody color palette perfectly capturing the brooding atmosphere of the story. The film's director, Brian J. Cano, has done an incredible job of infusing the story with a sense of claustrophobia and foreboding, making Lear's Shadow a tense and engaging watch from start to finish.

Overall, Lear's Shadow is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant movie that explores the complexities of familial relationships with great sensitivity and intelligence. It is a film that manages to be both timeless and contemporary, and is sure to resonate with audiences looking for something more than just a simple retelling of a classic story.

Lear's Shadow is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 4 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.