Faith-Based Films: As Bad as Christian Music?

From Geek Goes Rogue TV Editor Zach W. Lorton, who enjoys the oatmeal cookies his wife bakes, but has a hard time keeping them down when discussing this subject…

Some news was made very recently about a Christian film company who created a film that was given an R rating from the MPAA.  Peter T. Chattaway wrote an article in his Patheos blog Film Chat about My Son, the film in question (you should check out the article).  In it, he visits the idea that the film may have been given the rating because of its Christian content.  Even though the film contains violence and drug usage, the amount shown on screen is less than other high-profile Hollywood films that contain more on-screen instances of drug use and violence.

But this brings to mind another question that we should be asking ourselves… do Christian films suck?

Just as you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, you can’t always judge the quality of a film from its trailer.  However, if you saw this trailer, would you see this movie?

There’s so much about this that makes me not want to waste my time. First off, the film quality appears to be on par with what you might find in a direct-to-DVD title. Secondly, there is some horribly subpar acting for a 2-minute clip. Now, I’m not averse to the idea — the plot sounds realistic enough, and I’ve known several people that have had to deal with child custody situations that could have turned south with the right amount of leverage from one side or the other, so the dramatic element is definitely there.

However, plausibility doesn’t excuse bad filmmaking. I give you exhibit B:

Kevin Sorbo doesn’t exactly lend a huge amount of credibility to a project, but the guy can act. He’s got the chops to play pretty much whatever part you need him to play, so I can totally see a professor nursing a God grudge as being within his range. It’s the rest of the cast — including the Newsboys and their contribution, the film’s title — that I can’t stomach. If I’m saying, “Oh, this is gonna suck” within the first 20 seconds in response to someone’s acting or a line of dialogue, that’s a film I don’t want to see. So, God’s Not Dead falls into that genre of films that seem destined to forever suck:

Faith-based films.

Now, to be clear, I’m talking about movies made by Christian film companies, not necessarily films that deal with the topic of faith or religion.  Unless some outstandingly talented writers, producers, and directors come along with original, unique ideas that handle proslstyzing with something less than an iron fist, I’m afraid Christian films will always have a negative stigma attached to them.

I think one reason is because people respond to what they see first, and what they hear second.  This is why the Christian music industry can get away with mediocrity on a large scale, because most of it is heard rather than seen.  But mediocrity in film is a death knell.  Some movies are so bad that one wonders why they ever saw the light of day.

But since I’ve already given my own dissertation on the state of the Christian music industry and how it can be overhauled, I put it to you, the reader.  What do you think of the idea of Christian companies putting out films with Christian messages?  Have you seen any that you thought were of high quality?  Would you support a movie simply because it’s produced by, directed by, or features a headlining actor who is a Christian?

In a nutshell, what’s more important to you in a movie — well-represented faith, or good art?

Zach W. Lorton is a media producer and professional DJ/MC by trade, and a comedian, actor, and musician by default.  His debut music project is set to begin recording in 2014, and will likely take the world by storm, possibly in the form of a Sharknado.