Kyle McConaghy’s ‘SHEEP’S CLOTHING’ Explores Christian Dichotomy

Available now on demand from Amazon Prime, Sheep’s Clothing directed by Kyle McConaghy, written by Kyle McConaghy, Nick Heyman and Aaron Pfifer. Sheep’s Clothing stars Aaron Pfifer as Mansa, Nick Heyman as Pastor, and Sean Heyman as Terry. 

Synopsis

A violent attack leaves high school principal Mansa Harper with a traumatic brain injury. After finding refuge working for a Pastor at a fledgling church, Mansa soon realizes the Pastor’s personal struggles are creeping into the sanctuary. When a member of the church winds up dead, Mansa is compelled to help the Pastor clean up the aftermath. This act of service takes Mansa through a strange and bloody pilgrimage as he tries to save the church and himself. 

This poster art really intrigued me:

As a huge fan of religious themed horror, I was very excited to see Sheep’s Clothing, and I really wanted to love it. This film contains some excellent acting, with Aaron Pfifer’s portrayal of Mansa being particularly noteworthy. The distress he shows when struggling to be understood is highlighted and underscored when we see him practicing speaking alone at his apartment, speaking markedly clearer when he’s alone in an environment where his nervousness is lessened. This scene added a layer of depth and realism that I think is often overlooked in portrayals of disabled individuals. 

The sound design of Sheep’s Clothing is also noteworthy, as repetitive text message chimes, discordant sounds, and banging noises are all employed to help create and maintain an environment of heightened tension. These disturbing and anxiety inducing sounds, often along with a backdrop of Christian talk radio or worship songs, created a unique tension, reminding viewers of the dichotomy between words and actions, and the way in which one can condemn sin while still committing atrocious acts. 

Ultimately, despite all that I loved about Sheep’s Clothing, I came away a bit underwhelmed. My review notes ended up as mostly a list of unanswered questions. While the interplay between Mansa and Pastor was wonderfully nuanced, the rest of the characters and the supporting story details fell flat for me. The plot holes were numerous, and I ended up feeling more confused than anything else. I won’t go into details about those because I don’t want to include any spoilers. So I will just say that art is subjective and my experience will not necessarily be the same as yours, so I encourage you to watch Sheep’s Clothing for yourself and form your own opinions. 

Sheep’s Clothing is available on demand now on Amazon Prime.