SHAMAN (2025), a new supernatural horror movie directed by Antonio Negret and written by Daniel Negret, looks at faith, cultural identity, and ancestral beliefs. The story centers on Candice, played by Sara Canning, a missionary working with an isolated indigenous community near a remote volcano in Ecuador.
When her son Elliot (Jett Klyne) becomes possessed by a powerful and ancient spirit, she turns to a Catholic exorcism to save him. But the local shamans—guardians of centuries-old traditions—warn that this is no ordinary evil. Daniel Gillies plays a pivotal role in a clash between colonial religion and indigenous spirituality.
WHERE WAS SHAMAN (2025) FILMED?
Shaman was probably filmed between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. The movie was set to come out in theaters and online on August 8, 2025. The production team wanted to be as real as possible, so they shot the whole movie on location in Ecuador, picking real places that fit with the film’s spiritual and cultural themes.
CHIMBORAZO, ECUADOR – THE MAIN FILMING LOCATION
Shaman’s main production area is in Chimborazo, an Ecuadorian province in the central Andes. The place is named for Mount Chimborazo, an active volcano that is the tallest mountain in Ecuador and has a lot of spiritual and mythological meaning for the people who live there.
Indigenous people worship Mount Chimborazo as a volcano-deity. This cultural context fits the film’s spiritual warfare and indigenous belief themes. The haunting film is fueled by Chimborazo’s high altitude, dense fog, and rugged terrain.
According to a behind-the-scenes post shared on July 12, 2023, by Daniel Gillies via Instagram, “The mountain is Chimborazo, a volcano-deity overseeing the creation of our spooky little film.” His message also included gratitude to the local Ecuadorian community: “Gracias a la gente hermosa de Ecuador .”
IS SHAMAN INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS?
SHAMAN is not based on a true story, but it is influenced by native beliefs, traditions, and spiritual practices, especially those that have to do with healing, nature, and the spirit world. The movie has a lot to do with shamanism in South America, especially traditions from Ecuador. In Ecuador, shamans (traditional healers) do ceremonies to get rid of evil spirits and heal people.
Since director Antonio Negret grew up in Latin America, he sees the story from a personal point of view. Official production notes say that his childhood in the area had a big impact on the story of the movie. His knowledge of how ancestral traditions and Western religion clash gives the story a level of realism that is rarely found in possession-based horror.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Make sure to check netfilming.com often for the latest news, behind-the-scenes updates, and more.
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