You know that feeling when you're sixteen and your entire world feels like a pressure cooker? That is basically the heartbeat of Rob Grant’s new film, a gritty, neon-adjacent coming-of-age story that hit theaters and VOD late in 2025. While the title might sound like a generic self-help book, the cast of This Too Shall Pass film brings a surprising amount of edge to a story about Mormon kids breaking bad—or at least breaking boundaries—in the late 1980s.
It isn't your typical "church movie." Not even close. It is based on the actual life of producer Michael Simon Baker, who grew up in a strict religious household and eventually made a run for the Canadian border with his buddies. The cast is a mix of "hey, I know that face" actors from massive Netflix hits and seasoned legends who’ve been in the industry since before most of the leads were born.
The Core Group: Meet Simon and His Crew
The whole movie hinges on Simon. He's played by Maxwell Jenkins, who you probably remember as Will Robinson from Lost in Space. Honestly, it’s a bit jarring to see him trading a robot companion for a leather jacket and a crisis of faith, but he pulls it off. He plays Simon with this simmering frustration that feels totally authentic to anyone who’s ever been told "no" one too many times by their parents.
Simon isn't alone on this road trip to Canada, though. He’s got a squad of friends who all represent different flavors of teenage rebellion or conformity.
- Jeremy Ray Taylor (the sweet Ben Hanscom from the IT movies) plays Chris. He's the "jock" of the group, though in this movie, that mostly means he's the guy who might actually get them invited to a party if they don't look too much like outcasts.
- Ben Cockell (Goosebumps) takes on the role of Tim. He’s the group's resident New Wave obsessive. If you see a kid in a trench coat looking like he just stepped out of a The Cure music video, that’s him.
- Jaylin Webb (Armageddon Time) is James, the cinephile. He’s the one constantly pointing out how life isn't actually like a John Hughes movie, which is kind of ironic considering the genre they're in.
- Aidan Laprete (The Wilds) plays John. He's sort of the wild card—the horny slacker who’s mostly there for the adventure and the potential to meet girls across the border.
The Women Who Shake Up Simon's World
The catalyst for the whole "let's drive to Canada" plan is actually a girl named Shelly, played by Nikki Roumel (Ginny & Georgia). Simon has this massive, movie-style crush on her, which leads to a pretty awkward "grand gesture" that doesn't exactly go the way he planned.
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Then there is Misty.
If you've seen Ginny & Georgia or the horror flick Clown in a Cornfield, you’ll recognize Katie Douglas. She plays Misty, a local Canadian girl the boys run into. She’s arguably the most interesting character in the movie. While the boys are fumbling around trying to act cool, Misty is the one who actually feels lived-in and real. She isn’t some "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" trope; she’s a person with her own baggage who ends up teaching Simon that life is a lot messier than a 90-minute film script.
The "Old Guard" and Supporting Stars
One of the coolest things about the cast of This Too Shall Pass film is the inclusion of some genuine cult icons. You've got Michael Ironside playing Officer Shultz. Seeing the guy from Total Recall and Starship Troopers show up as a small-town cop is just a treat. He brings a level of gravitas that keeps the "adult" world feeling threatening and grounded.
Then you have Mark McKinney. If you grew up on The Kids in the Hall or watched Superstore, you know his comedic timing is untouchable. He plays Bishop Himolta. It’s a great piece of casting because he can be funny, but he also captures that specific, stifling authority of a religious leader.
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The rest of the supporting cast fills out the world of Syracuse, New York, and the Canadian border towns:
- Robert Longstreet as Rockford.
- Joanne Kelly (from Warehouse 13) as Mrs. K.
- Chris Sandiford as Officer Harris.
- Munro Chambers (of Degrassi and Turbo Kid fame) makes a memorable appearance as a character named Gum.
Why the Casting Matters for This Story
Director Rob Grant, who usually does horror-leaning stuff like Harpoon, took a big swing with this one. He actually leaned away from the "neon-drenched" 80s aesthetic we see in Stranger Things. Instead, the cast is dressed in muted tones, oversized sweaters, and realistic late-80s grunge.
The chemistry between Jenkins, Taylor, Webb, Cockell, and Laprete feels like a real group of friends. They improvised a lot of their banter. You can tell they actually liked each other. In a movie where the plot is basically "kids drive somewhere and talk," if you don't believe the friendship, the movie dies. Luckily, this group makes it work.
The film tackles some heavy themes—religious hypocrisy, the fear of the future, and the realization that your parents are just flawed people. Having a veteran like Michael Ironside or Mark McKinney to play against the younger actors creates this palpable tension between the "old world" of rules and the "new world" the kids are trying to build for themselves.
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What to Watch Next if You Liked the Cast
If you found yourself Googling the cast of This Too Shall Pass film after the credits rolled, you’ve got plenty of homework.
For more of Maxwell Jenkins, you should definitely check out the Lost in Space reboot on Netflix or the 2024 film Arcadian where he stars alongside Nicolas Cage. He's really carving out a niche for himself in "young man in peril" roles.
If Katie Douglas was your favorite part of the movie (and she is for many people), Ginny & Georgia is the obvious choice, but her performance in Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey is where she really shows her dramatic range. It’s a tough watch, but she’s incredible in it.
To get a better sense of where the director is coming from, go back and watch Harpoon. It’s way darker and bloodier than This Too Shall Pass, but you’ll see the same sharp, cynical wit and the ability to make a small group of people in a confined space feel absolutely electric.
Basically, the best way to support these actors is to keep an eye on their indie projects. Big blockbusters are fine, but movies like this—where the cast actually gets to breathe and improvise—are where the real magic happens. Check out the soundtrack too, because the needle drops from The Cure and New Order are basically characters themselves in this story.
Go find a copy of the soundtrack or check out the actors' previous credits on MUBI or IMDb to see how they've grown into these roles.