Brave the Dark (Christian Movie Review)
Brave the Dark is a beautifully told story that avoids cheap sentimentality in its honest exploration of trauma and the compassion and perseverance required to overcome it.
About the Film
How dramatically can one person change the course of someone’s life? Based on a true story, Brave the Dark spotlights the transformative influence a humble teacher has on a troubled student. The film may not be as flashy as some of Angel Studios’ previous offerings, but it’s one of the studio’s most impactful, mature films to date. Elevated by captivating acting performances, Brave the Dark is a beautifully told story that avoids cheap sentimentality in its honest exploration of trauma and the compassion and perseverance required to overcome it.
On the surface, Brave the Dark doesn’t explore much uncharted territory. The narrative framework of the teacher/student bond is an established trope in Hollywood. Brave the Dark is conventional in that it doesn’t offer many surprises on its way to a relatively predictable destination, but the film succeeds due to the nuanced and sophisticated way in which that journey unfolds.
Brave the Dark could easily have fallen flat by veering too far into sensationalism, either by leaning into the angsty, moody aesthetic (ex. 13 Reasons Why) or by softening the harsher realities of its subject matter in favor of cheap sentimentality (ex. The Forge). The film manages to thread that delicate needle by honestly portraying both the peaks and valleys of life, never diminishing one to elevate the other. As a result, the character growth and breakthroughs feel earned.
Tonally, Brave the Dark is an almost unrelentingly heavy film (although actor Jared Harris infuses some much-needed levity). It is also a hope-saturated story in which the goodness and nobility of the human spirit pierces through the pain and darkness of this world. Director Damian Harris demonstrates restraint by allowing the characters to grow organically rather than rushing them toward the cathartic finale.
The film owes its success in large part to its excellent cast. The relationship between troubled student Nathan Williams (Nicholas Hamilton) and his teacher Stan Deen (Jared Harris) is the beating heart of the film. Both actors are great in their respective roles, and the movie is at its best when they share the screen. Jared Harris is one of my personal favorite actors, and he is the secret sauce that makes this story work. He is instantly inspirational, likeable, and flawed. His character’s actions are even more poignant when set against the backdrop of his own weaknesses and insecurities.
Brave the Dark is perhaps the least overtly “Christian” story in Angel Studios’ recent filmography. Some dialogue and veiled biblical allusions suggest that Stan Deen is a man of faith, or that he at least has a religious background. But the film focuses on his practical acts of love and compassion rather than on the worldview that motivates them. Thus, while perhaps not a “faith-based” film in the strictest sense, the story embodies the love of Christ. There is a place for overt evangelistic storytelling, but Brave the Dark’s “show, don’t tell” approach is refreshing.
In a day of limitless entertainment options, Brave the Dark has something many films lack—a meaningful story worth telling. It may not wow viewers with popcorn-munching spectacle, but its hauntingly relatable human story will likely stay with audiences long after they’ve left the theater. Brave the Dark emphatically demonstrates that acts of love and compassion by ordinary people can indeed alter the course of a life.
For Consideration
Language: There are scattered profanities throughout, including multiple uses of “s—” and “b—d,” in addition to words like “screw,” “crap,” and “fricking.”
Violence: A woman is physically abused and ultimately murdered by her husband. A man commits suicide (he is shown putting a gun in his mouth, then the screen cuts away and the gunshot is audible). A young child has blood wiped from his face after that incident. Another character attempts to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.
Sexuality: A man is forced to strip down naked in a police station (his crotch area is concealed). He is later shown taking a shower (he is visible from the beltline up). At a party, a couple is found in bed kissing, both fully clothed.
Engage The Film
Compassion for the Less Fortunate
Brave the Dark recognizes that there is a lot more going on in someone’s life than immediately meets the eye. In a confrontation with the school’s principal, Deen says, “You and I know this isn’t a level playing field. Some kids are born behind the eight ball. And we’re lying to them when we say everything is going to work out just fine. But don’t those kids deserve the same chance as the others?”
Later, during a passionate argument between Williams and Deen, Williams declares, “My dad was a bad person. I’m a bad person. That’s what I’ve been told,” to which Deen counters, “You’re not a bad person. You’ve just had bad luck.” While many people—including Williams himself—define Williams only by his traumatic past and current struggles, Deen believes that there is “a good kid in there,” and he strives to show the love and compassion necessary to help Williams overcome those painful experiences.
Jesus commanded his followers to love others, even when those efforts are unappreciated and unreciprocated. At the heart of Christ’s teaching was the need to see the innate value in each person. Brave the Dark doesn’t explicitly tie its message to Christ, but it clearly echoes his teachings.
While Williams represents an extreme case, Deen encounters numerous former students throughout the story who feel indebted to him for the compassion he showed them as youth. Those students demonstrate the far-reaching impact one person can have by choosing to show kindness and compassion to others.
