By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I love the GOD’S NOT DEAD series. I saw the first one and had zero expectations. At the time, I hadn’t heard of PURE FLIX. I remember hearing the buzz around the film and heard people say it was fun, so I jumped in. I loved it. I was so excited when I heard about the sequel.
Like the original, GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 (2016) blew me away. From beginning to end it was a great feelgood movie. It had a great message, fantastic characters and an entertaining plot. What stands out the most about that film was the performance by the great Ray Wise as the evil ACLU attorney Pete Kane.
When the third entry, GOD’S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN DARKNESS (2018) was released, I heard mixed reviews. Some said it was a different type of film, void of over-the-top characters and the comedy of the first two.
Admittedly, to an extent, they are correct. The film was made in a distinct style that makes it stand out from the others. Though there is a lot of laughs, the humor is done in a more subtle and realistic fashion. It’s more conversational comedy, but it works!
Also, rather than over-the-top, pompous antagonists, we see more natural interactions between family, friends and even friendly foes. There isn’t a stated bad guy in this film and there’s no intention to get the audience to hate anyone. Even the characters that openly doubt Christianity are shown in a sympathetic and understanding way. Their morality and love for the fellow man is not hindered by their lack of belief in a creator. It’s a different approach, but it is this different approach that made the movie so special.
It opens with Reverend Dave (David A.R. White) being released from jail. His friend and fellow pastor, Rev. Jude (Benjamin A. Onyango) is there to greet him. Sadly, controversy erupts on Hadley University and the school is torn as to what to do. Many want Dave’s church gone stating that the college is now operated by the state rather than the church.
Keaton (Samantha Boscarino) finds herself among students in her dorm who are unbelievers. They lean toward Quantum Physics and evolution for answers to existence. She is a Christian who has doubts. When she blows off her boyfriend Adam (Mike C. Manning) to seek religious counsel from Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper), a chain of events is set off that is the catalyst for the entire movie.
Adam gets drunk at a party and becomes enraged at Keaton’s lack of communication. The fury boils over come nightfall and Adam throws a brick thru the empty church unknowingly hitting a gas line. Rev. Dave and Rev. Jude happen by at the same time. Jude runs in to check out the place and dies in an explosion, despite Dave’s attempt at rescue.
Rather than take the side of the church, Hadley University decides that the protesters are right. They want to tear it down and build a student center. Rev. Dave’s good friend and school administrator Thomas Ellsworth (Ted McGinley) starts off trying to help the church, but eventually caves under the pressure of financial donors, a leftist media and the threat of losing his job.
Desperate, Dave reaches out to his semi-estranged brother Pearce (John Corbett) for help. Pearce is an attorney who takes the case despite having an ideology somewhere in between agnostic and atheistic.
Meanwhile, Dave’s grief and anger over Jude’s death brings him to a dark place. Though he never questions the existence of God, he does question God’s intentions for him. He feels lost. Friends and even a romantic interest Meg (Jennifer Taylor) rally around, but just as the church has support so does the other side.
Many students take the side of the school and protest to tear the church down. Despite both sides holding up signs that say “LOVE NOT HATE” it’s clear that everyone there, Christian and Atheist alike, have hatred in their hearts.
The imagery, by no coincidence, is identical to what you’d see on the 24 hour news channels. It depicts the America we see today; one that is so divided and where everyone is screaming at each other and yet have zero interest in hearing what the opposing view has to say.
When depicting the news, GODS NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN DARKNESS does a phenomenal job in accurately showing how the talking heads would rather argue, insult and patronize to one another rather than have a real conversation or meeting of the minds.
In the end, Dave seeks out God’s voice and listens to Him. Without giving the conclusion away, I will say the focus is on forgiveness, redemption and compromise. It’s about loving everyone and respecting the differences of opinion while still appreciating the unity of humanity.
This isn’t a movie that preaches to you or hits you over the head with the Bible. Rev. Dave is a flawed man. He isn’t self-righteous nor is he perfect; and it is that which makes him so relatable. Whether on the left or the right, progressive or conservative, Christian or Atheist, you have to watch this. It has more heart than any film I’ve seen in a very long time.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
