Brave the Dark

The Harris brothers came with the heat on this film. And Nicholas Hamilton does an incredible job matching Jared Harris' energy. Love every second we get of them together on screen.

This film is a testament to the fact that you never know how deeply you can alter the course of someone's life by showing up.

Nate played by Hamilton has a deeply troubled past and horrible mentors as his life spirals into a destructive path. Nearing rock bottom, his teacher Mr. Deen (played by Harris) sees the good in Nate and chooses to show up for him when nobody else would.

If you want to feel uplifted this New Year 2025, go see Brave the Dark!

Just watched this movie. If you have ever been or are a mentor, or a foster parent or adopted this movie will inspire, encourage and draw emotions of the journey. If you are a teacher this movie is for you. Yes there is some swearing, but not excessive. I have live the life of Mr Dean many a time through my life. It is humbling seeing what God has done. This movie is not churchy but there are signs of faith throughout. I encourage you to see it. INVITE TEACHERS, MENTORS, and those that work with troubled teens. It is refreshing, hopeful, encouraging. The actors did a great job. I am sure they were moved making it.

Good watch.. Acting was fine.. Great story..it's worth a watch but not a must see.

Felt I needed to post a review because (at the time of this review) the film is currently rated at an 8.5. This is not a classic by any means. The story was fantastic and relatable to most, the main educator in the film, was the highlight of the show. The protagonist teen was fair (not a nominee for any awards). There were scenes of high emotion so be prepared. On another note, the grandparents were necessary to the story but it was hard to understand their thought processes. Oh, and there are some minor twists. Based on a true story.

This is a beautiful film about fatherhood and a story much needed for our current times. The always impressive Jared Harris portrays a good natured teacher who takes Nathan, a troubled teenager under his wing, trying desperately to help him through kindness, empathy, and genuine good humor. All of this is confusing to Nathan who is not used to such concern, and is heavily burdened by his own self-hatred. Harris plays a less serious role than I've seen him play previously and he exudes a confident, fun-loving nature which keeps the viewer invested every time he is on screen. Nicholas Hamilton's performance cannot be overlooked either, and his tortured and engaging demeanor provides an electrifying contrast.

The film definitely delivers on its title, more than earning it's strong PG-13 rating, but does not dwell upon the horrors of trauma to such a degree that it taints the message of redemption. That being said, the resolution does feel a bit too quick, having a hopeful tail-end timejump when I felt some more healing could be shown after such a jarring reveal. Nevertheless, the message and direction overcome the film's shortcomings making this a great story for adults.

A bold reminder that we don't know the road that many of the people we think we know have travelled and how those experiences have shaped their lives, for good or for bad. It forces one to consider the question: Do I have what it takes to be a Mr. Deen? While the performances were okay, the story trumped any deficiencies in that area. It was also notable how music was shown to be liberating for the lead characters. I hope the messages from this film will reside in the back of my mind and help me seek a clearer picture when assessing a person's character and worth. It is easy to profess that we are each a Child of God, but quite another to treat others in that manner.