Kangaroo Island (Christian Movie Review)
Death, divorce, and deadbeats, Kangaroo Island explores every type of tragedy a family could experience, yet it does so in a way that subverts expected norms, provides hope amid heartbreak, and proves redemption is possible.
About the Film
This film tells the story of Lou Wells and her family in Australia as they deal with tragedies most of us wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy. What begins as a lighthearted story about a washed-up Hollywood actress quickly delves into a deep well of struggles. Death, divorce, and deadbeats, Kangaroo Island explores every type of tragedy a family could experience, yet it does so in a way that subverts expected norms, provides hope amid heartbreak, and proves redemption is possible.
I was invested in the story from the beginning. It begins with a hook and then offers a steady drip of clues that keeps audiences engaged. It’s a story of profound loss in many ways, yet it’s not cynical. There are moments of intense sadness, but also plenty of comedic relief, including a running joke about a character’s lost luggage.
Family is at the heart of this film, and the Wells family is messed up. Two feuding sisters, an adulterer, and a lost and dying dad make up the ragtag group. At the beginning of the film, none of the family members are on speaking terms with Lou. But by the end, family bonds have been restored. A pinnacle event in the story is the loss of a child and the family’s failure to prevent the tragedy or to support the mourner afterwards. Ultimately, the family’s ability to resolve their differences underscores the strength of familial bonds and unconditional love.
One of the storylines follows the sisters’ relationship with a non-Kangaroo Island native. He is an unsympathetic character who toys with both sisters’ hearts in a selfish attempt to make himself feel desired and powerful. He experiences little character growth and is duly punished in the end. He isn’t offered forgiveness, but he never asks for it either. He opens the door to conversations about divorce.
The film also addresses medically-assisted suicide. A character decides to end his life using medicine he receives from a vet. Naturally, his family attempts to stop him. Yet they eventually decide to support his decision. He ends up not using the medicine and goes out on his own terms in a different way. Suicide, particularly medically-assisted suicide, is a major theme of the film, and it is presented in a mostly positive light. While characters may raise objections, they ultimately accept and support their loved one’s decision.
One could argue that the film tries to touch on too many weighty themes, including adultery, suicide, the loss of a child, and divorce. Yet the throughline of unconditional family love pulls the story together.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It made me laugh, cry, and think about my own faith and experiences with God. Kangaroo Island wrestles with purpose, faith, and grief in a fresh way, while still preaching universal truths. In my opinion, it’s one of the top films to have been released in the US so far in 2026.
For Consideration
On the Surface—(Profanity, Sexual content, violence, etc.).
Language: Some mild profanity is used, including a few F-bombs, b-ard, a-, etc. Some jokes are sexual in nature. The Lord’s name is taken in vain several times.
Violence: A car crash happens, but only a brief shot of the cars colliding is shown. A car hits a joey, and the dead body is shown with the mother kangaroo watching in the distance. No gore is visible, but an interlude later shows a closeup of the joey’s semi-decomposed body.
Sexuality: Adultery is discussed, but nothing is shown. Characters kiss.
Other: Characters are shown smoking, discussing a marijuana farm, flipping off other characters, and drinking. There are conversations about medically-induced suicide and the loss of a child.
Engage The Film
Come As You Are
At the start of the film, Lou’s sister is a stereotypical judgmental Christian trying to save her unbelieving family, unintentionally pushing them away in the process. Lou is religion averse, “sculling beer” every time her sister mentions the name Jesus. The film ends with Lou telling her sister, “I get it. I can feel God.” Her sister replies, “It’s funny; I can’t.”
What changed?
The sisters relate to God in different ways. Throughout the film, Lou’s sister views Christianity as a means of fixing everything. It’s her way of controlling her life and ensuring her family is safe. She strives for perfection. On the other hand, Lou knows she’s messed up. She is clearly the more broken of the two, going as far as committing adultery and finding solace in substances. On the outside, Lou seems much less likely than her sister to experience salvation.
But in Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When Lou returns home, her burden is almost visible. But by the end of the film, she understands that she could never earn salvation. It’s a beautiful, free gift from God!
