Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Faith- and fact-based prison drama; violence, mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Firing Squad
What's the Story?
Based on a true story, THE FIRING SQUAD follows inmates Peter Lone (James Barrington), Samuel Wilson (Cuba Gooding Jr.), and Pastor Lynbrook (Kevin Sorbo), who are all facing death sentences in an Indonesian prison. The trio unexpectedly find peace, hope, forgiveness, and redemption inside the walls of the remote prison, and their faith in the days leading up to their executions ultimately inspires the entire compound.
Is It Any Good?
An earnest faith-based movie on a mission, this powerful, inspirational story occasionally misfires on connecting with viewers authentically. The Firing Squad hits hard and heavy with its strong Christian messaging and Biblical verses throughout; these will likely either be embraced by evangelical Christian viewers or come off as brash and preachy to nonbelievers. And while Sorbo and Gooding Jr. deliver convincing performances, this low-budget film shows its true colors with low-quality cinematography, disjointed supporting acting, and poor script writing. Unintentionally funny one-liners and a "glowing" look at life in a remote Indonesian prison diminish the film's bigger themes and overshadow the seriousness of the men's impending death sentences. But fans of faith will likely still appreciate The Firing Squad's dose of fact-based reality, as well as its potential teaching-and-reaching moments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of faith-based films like The Firing Squad. Who's the target audience? Do you think that you need to be a person of faith in order to appreciate the movie's message? Or can secular families equally appreciate a strong Christian-themed film?
Why do you think that some people turn to faith in desperate situations? Can you think of other movies with this theme?
Do you think that finding hope, peace, and forgiveness are possible in a place like prison? Why, or why not?
How do characters demonstrate courage, perseverance, and empathy? Why are those important character strengths?
How accurate do you think this film is to the events that happened in real life? Why might filmmakers choose to alter the facts in movies based on true stories?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 2, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : August 31, 2024
- Cast : Kevin Sorbo , Cuba Gooding Jr. , James Barrington
- Director : Timothy A. Chey
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Epoch Studios
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements, drug references and brief violence
- Last updated : March 29, 2025
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