(Pure Flix)
Sometimes forgiveness is extremely tough to come by—and the enemy’s lies make it even more challenging, as the Pure Publicity film Taken by Grace reveals.
Lucas (Angus Macfadyen, Braveheart), an unbeliever, has lived with an unforgiving heart since he went to prison, harboring ill will against Trig, the man who killed his son. Now this father is bent on revenge.
Upon being released from prison, Lucas violates his parole by breaking into a house and stealing a gun and a bottle of whiskey—but nothing else. Later that evening, at a campsite, he encounters Shawn (Bradley Dorsey) and his wife, Carrie (Haylie Duff), a young Christian couple struggling in their marriage due to Shawn’s infidelity.
After kidnapping the couple and forcing them to take him to find Trig, Lucas learns of Shawn’s adultery and mocks the couple’s feeble attempt at reconciliation. Forgiveness, he says, is simply not possible with people—even those who believe in God—when someone has been so hurt by another.
Yet when they’re faced with the reality of dying, the couple realizes forgiveness indeed is possible with God. As they search for grace within themselves, they begin to feel sympathy for their kidnapper. Lucas, however, continues in his intent to kill Trig.
While the film includes only mild violence and no inappropriate language, the drama may be a bit intense for a younger audience. The potential threat of violence looms large throughout the movie due to Lucas’ unpredictability.
A suprise ending helps make Taken by Grace, set for release Oct. 15 on DVD, a must-see. And with a compelling story, it reminds us that God’s grace is enough—and that He can heal any situation and even the most shattered heart. —Shawn Akers
