The Shack

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Violence    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens March 3, 2017

Runs 132 minutes

This is the movie based on the best-selling novel of the same name. MacKenzie "Mack" Phillips (Sam Worthington) is a loving husband and father. He dutifully attends church but doesn't consider himself as devout as his wife Nan (Radha Mitchell). When his youngest daughter Missy (Amelie Eve) is kidnapped and murdered in a shack in the woods, Mack is left floundering in a sea of guilt and despair. When he receives a mysterious letter asking him to meet at the shack, he knows it is somehow God calling to him. He decides to head to the shack and along the way, he has an encounter that will change his life forever.

I thought this movie was fairly well-done. The cast was good and the production value was high, especially for a faith-based film. It did not seem cheesy or preachy. But, I thought it was a little too long. The voice-over narration by Tim McGraw seemed a little unnecessary and even a little bland. I didn't really feel my emotions kick in until almost the end of the film. However, the overall messages of love, family, forgiveness and redemption were all front and center. You can't go too wrong with a film based around these ideas. The film was beautiful to look at and Octavia Spencer was perfect - gentle, loving and even a little humorous. Some people might come away a little confused about the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) and how they were protrayed. Just go with it. We need more faith-based films in theatres and this one is good enough for the whole family. The audience in my screening all seemed moved by the film. Go see it and support a faith-based movie so maybe there will be more in the future.

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