OPINION:
“The Forge” is probably the Kendrick brothers’ most complete and polished work. “The Deliverance” is a dark and violent horror film, but we find some positive spiritual messages amid the darkness. You’ll do far more wincing than blinking in “Blink Twice.”
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The Forge – In Theaters
In 2002, brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick took $20,000 and the blessing of the church they worked for — Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia — and turned it into a full-length movie. The finishing touches were put on the film “Flywheel” at 6 a.m. April 9, 2003, just hours before its premiere.
Since then, the Kendrick brothers have released eight more full-length movies, and in so doing helped upend and expand the Christian film industry. It seems like every time the Kendrick brothers release a new movie, Hollywood prognosticators are a little flabbergasted by how successful it is. Every few years, we’re reminded that little Christian films can generate big profits.
Not that the Kendricks are in this business for the money: They’re in it for the souls. Throughout their career, they’ve kept their focus tightly honed on their audience (Christians) and their mission (biblically rooted encouragement). And while there might’ve been a time when they would’ve enjoyed making a lavish, CGI superhero flick, those days are long gone.
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“We realize that some people are not going to like our movies, and we are totally OK with that,” Alex Kendrick, director of “The Forge,” told me on “The Plugged In Show.” “But those that do, [those] that we can encourage and help go deeper in their faith, praise the Lord.”
And that’s really what “The Forge” is all about: An exhortation for Christians to go deeper.
“The Lord doesn’t need more lukewarm churchgoers,” Joshua says. “We need more believers who are wholeheartedly following Jesus.”
Why? Joshua shows us every moment he’s on screen. We see what total commitment costs — and what harvest it reaps. We see how one man can completely transform another man’s life — and how that transformation can exponentially grow. According to the Pew Research Center, 210 million people in the United States identify as Christian. Can you imagine what would happen if every one of those 210 million people were as committed to Christ as Joshua? If they gave so much of their time and treasure?
From an aesthetic viewpoint, “The Forge” is probably the Kendrick brothers’ most complete and polished work. Certainly, this film is made for Christians: The movie’s very clarity of purpose will be a difficult sell for some outside the faith.
But for those within that faith — those who’ve felt Christ’s tug in their lives but perhaps haven’t yet taken the full discipleship plunge — ”The Forge” can be both encouraging and convicting. And it reminds us all that Christ didn’t come just to save us; He came to transform us, so that we in turn can help transform others. He asks us to die to ourselves so that we can help others find new life, and new hope.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
The Deliverance – Streaming on Netflix
From 2011 to 2012, Latoya Ammons and her family reported strange and frightening occurrences in their home in Gary, Indiana, which they attributed to demonic spirits. The case, documented by the Indianapolis Star, eventually involved social workers, police, and a Catholic priest.
“The Deliverance” draws much of its inspiration from that account. (Latoya Ammons is even mentioned by name during the end credits.) Ultimately, it’s a story about a family trying to survive extreme and outright spiritual darkness.
To the film’s credit, it delivers the point that the only power that can overcome such darkness is found in Jesus Christ. No matter what evil we face, we are assured that Christ has already won the victory — defeating sin and death through His sacrifice and resurrection — and we can share in His victory by putting our faith in Him.
With that in mind, “The Deliverance” strives to tell a redemptive story. But there’s a lot of content issues here that muddy the waters.
In many ways, this is standard R-rated horror fare: dark, disturbing images. Bloody violence. A barrage of foul language and more besides. You’ll have to decide if you want to wade through that to get to this movie’s positive messages.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Blink Twice – In Theaters
Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut is designed to tap into the “Me Too” movement’s passion while making declarative statements about money, abusive power and male toxicity. What it delivers, though, is a lot of Epstein Island-like debauchery blended with “I Spit on Your Grave” style revenge violence.
That’s not to say that there’s absolutely nothing redeemable in the mix. From a purely esthetic perspective there are some solid performances (particularly from lead Naomi Ackie) and a serviceable story twist by movie’s end.
But all in all, this is one miserable island vacation filled with despicable people, profuse alcohol and drug consumption, repugnant rape and bloody murder. And you, dear viewer, are the one who must foot the bill.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by Paul Asay, Bret Eckelberry, and Bob Hoose.
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