User reviews

What we see on the surface does not reveal what's hidden beneath. Nathan is a troubled teenager feeling guilty about his childhood felt worthless. Mr. Deen, a compassionate teacher, is optimistic about all of his students. When Nathan finally shares past events, he exorcises his demons.

Angel Studios continues to produce movies like this based on true stories. Angel Studios showcases what many people would consider to be lost causes. Unlike fantasy movies and fairy tales, publicizing real hardships hidden in plain site serves as wake up call: Advocate with acts of kindness, whether large or small, to make a difference one life at a time.

Nice to see a movie which was based on true story stick to the realities without need for gratuitous shock values. The storyline caught my attention. As per another review the editing was not well done. The acting quality was average and did not feel the main character, teenager, did not communicate the angst or anger he felt due to the traumatic event at a young age. Also, more character development would be helpful. Especially in regards to the grandparents. Did not understand why they were so distant and angry to have put the kid in an orphanage. The film clip at the end with the real teenager all grown up was the most uplifting part of the film. Definitely got the message across to look for the good in each person.

I thought this movie would be average at best. How many times do we get a story about a down and out kid that gets saved by their hero teacher. This movie was that, but they did a wonderful job at telling the story.

The acting is what made the show. I really cared about the kid. I felt his emotional pain. It was not overdone. The teacher was played well. Again, there was not a bunch of over-emoting or cornball jokes.

If you like touching movies, this is the one for you. Don't avoid it because it is from Angel.

This is not an overbearing religious movie. It is a movie about people needing people.

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.

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.

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.

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!

I wanted to see this film after finding out Nicholas Hamilton was in a lead role. I wanted to see if he could take on a serious role and am happy to say his performance was solid.

These types of films usually are not my cup of tea (I typically stick to horror). That being said, the movie was pretty good! The acting was spot on and the actors (particularly Hamilton and Jared Harris) made the characters grounded and believable. The character growth felt nice and realistic enough, even if Stan seemed a bit like a Mary Sue. Given the director's history with the actual Stan, I get why the character was personified without flaws, but it did become noticeable about halfway through.

I would give the film a higher rating, but that money grab tacked onto the end of the film irked me the wrong way. "Use the QR code to buy your loved one a ticket." No. I'm not gonna do that. Should've been left at the end of the trailer or as a promotional thing - not at the LITERAL END OF THE MOVIE. Here I am, tears streaming down my face, then that commercial happened and they dried up like the Sahara.

Excellent story of unconditional love, for a young man who needed guidance and someone who truly cared about him with no strings. We all know someone like the main character. Hopefully many of us would go out of our way to help someone who could use our help. Before judging someone because of what you've heard or their actions remember you don't know what's going on in that person's life it may have caused them to react in that way, we must be understanding and loving. Treating people with respect and showing them, they have worth is very important, especially in the dark days we are living in.

Angel studios has produced very high quality movies (8-10 stars), such as: 1) Cabrini (10*) 2) Sound of Hope (9*) 3) Sound of Freedom (8.5*) But as a movie critic, I was very dissapointed with Brave the Dark.

Pros: True story chosen was amazing and inspirational.

Cons: Though the story was an amazing & inspirational story, I feel it lost almost all of its potential impact by its bad production... again, not usual for Angel Studios; I feel they weren't careful nor meticulous on this one: 1) The writer seemed inexperienced and didn't write a compelling script for the story.

2) Directing was handicapped due to the poor script writing, so... directing wasn't good nor compelling.

3) Main actor, Nicholas Hamilton, did a very good job. Also, in supporting roles: Jamie Harris did very well (for his minor role as Parole Officer) and Will Price did ok as Nate's friend. The teacher, Jared Harris did fairly well, but lacked a little. The rest of the acting was very sub-par.

4) There were only about 5 total minutes of film that were actually gripping (can't say, since they'd be spoiler alerts for someone who wants to see the film).

But in general, I cannot recommend the film. It doesn't reach the heart nor attention.

Wonderful film with a fine script and terrific acting.

The lead actor - the teacher whom I remember from Mad Men - is great in this role as the supportive and optimistic foil for the boy in need.

The boy who shares a dark secret is effective and believable as a tortured soul who needs a break

That it's a true story makes it all the more powerful

The writing - dialogue and character development - is strong and the message is clear.

It's not often that a film will teach the moviegoer valuable lessons on how we need to support others in need. Showing you care and helping a stranger overcome obstacles can have a long lasting effect.

This movie was so good! Based on a true story of a tragedy. The movie based in the 70s was so real and raw! It was good old fashioned entertainment that tugs at your heart! I found myself wanting to save this young man! Being a true story, I think there are many children in need of rescue and nurturing love! A must see. The story also highlights the importance of teachers and how important they are in lives of children and teens! Had it not been for the heart of one teacher, this troubled teen would not have made it. It's a story of loss, abandonment, and redemption... everyone in the theatre was shedding tears. We need more movies like this that offer hope and show the goodness in people who are willing to open their hearts and in this case their home.

I understand this is based on true events, it's just that the cadence of the edit was not well done. This would have served better as a short film. The acting was not convincing either, and we were left with little time to think because the edit flow was so quick and abbreviated. It was almost as if everyone was ADHD.

We left the theater because it was not interesting and confusing at 1hr. Stretch it out, allow for character growth. Get a different editor! I'm a film producer.

It just feels like there could have been a more cohesive back story in things. The grandparents being jerks didn't make much sense either.

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.

I have no idea why this movie is getting so many positive reviews. At best, it felt like a ln average Hallmark movie. At worst, it was a severe drop in quality from what Angel Studios has been producing lately. Bland, unconvincing acting from the teenage actor. He couldn't emote and it showed badly when the movie needed him to. Bad pacing, bad writing, bad story telling. We are supposed to believe that he is broke and poor, and yet he has the best car out of anyone in his school. He can't eat for three days but he wins track meets (against competition that clearly isn't trying). The backstory is very poor in its execution, leading to a forced buy-in from the director to the audience. The dialogue between the main adult character and the other faculty members was frustrating. It felt like a standard Christian movie - which is not a good thing. I hope Angel Studios recognizes this drop in quality and doesn't repeat. I understand that not every movie will be as good as Cabrini or Sound of Freedom or Sound of Hope, but this hard drop off, in every category. Don't recommend.

This inspiring movie had both my husband & I engaged from the very beginning (and that's saying alot because he loves action/thriller type movies) This movie was well done. The two main actors are fabulous. The story grabs your mind and your heart. Young adults can relate to many high school situations and scenes. It makes a person think about what obstacles some children endure and how wonderful some people are, especially teachers. It makes you realize that it's not how many obstacles you face in life but how you learn to work your way around them. I highly encourage families with children 13+ of age to watch it together.

Mr. Deen did just that. He was a teacher who saw the potential in his students, and many went on to make a positive difference in the world. With Nate, he went the extra mile, showing love, compassion, and caring. Mr. Deen is the example we should all want to follow by investing in the lives of others, especially those who have had an awful experience in life. And even more specifically, orphans. Watch this movie and change your perspective. Even if you only help one person to realize their life has meaning and purpose, it could be the difference between life and death. And it could change your life too.

Click on the name below reviews and it will show you how people have reviewed other movies. Reviewers with only 1 review are almost always cast and crew trying to pump up a bad movie. It's not done nearly as much on good movies as it isn't needed so it's usually a sure fire way to know that the movie in question is bad. It also shows that the people involved with it have ZERO faith in it.

Click on the name below reviews and it will show you how people have reviewed other movies. Reviewers with only 1 review are almost always cast and crew trying to pump up a bad movie. It's not done nearly as much on good movies as it isn't needed so it's usually a sure fire way to know that the movie in question is bad. It also shows that the people involved with it have ZERO faith in it.

Click on the name below reviews and it will show you how people have reviewed other movies. Reviewers with only 1 review are almost always cast and crew trying to pump up a bad movie. It's not done nearly as much on good movies as it isn't needed so it's usually a sure fire way to know that the movie in question is bad. It also shows that the people involved with it have ZERO faith in it.

Click on the name below reviews and it will show you how people have reviewed other movies. Reviewers with only 1 review are almost always cast and crew trying to pump up a bad movie. It's not done nearly as much on good movies as it isn't needed so it's usually a sure fire way to know that the movie in question is bad. It also shows that the people involved with it have ZERO faith in it.

Great story about a troubled youth and someone who saw something more in him..we never know the motivations behind someone, their life experience and how it affects them. Good story line, good acting. Angel studios, never fails to provide uplifting inspirational storylines. Movies like Sound of Freedom, Sight, Sound of Hope: the Story of Possum Trot. All show the compassion of individuals and inspire that to the viewers.i highly recommend this movie and pray that it will inspire more people to mentor someone in need of such.. this movie is not preachy at all but it's foundation is biblical. Very enjoyable.

The call to action & message behind this film is captivating! It shows that the behaviors of children are surface level invites to their realities. As adults & educators, we need to be more inquisitive and curious to learn the stories of the children we serve, only then can we see begin to see life through their eyes. It is up to us, the adults, to show children that for every person that hurt them, there is a person on the other end that can love them to the same degree, we must show them they are worthy of help & guidance, and this film eloquently depicts that urgency to be that possibility.

Excellent film! Well done, great acting and directing!

This film points out the power of one person's positive influence in the life of another.

Bravo to all who worked so hard to make this a successful release!

I loved the way the home and accessories were true to the time period. The cars brought back some special memories, as well. I loved that he had to throw the seatbelt in the car before he could close the door.

The cast was well-chosen and incredibly believable. The little boy was perfect!

The flashbacks and segues were seamless!

I enjoyed the references to things my children would not pick up on today.

The Tupperware bowl she ate her lunch from made me laugh, and remember my identical set.

The film reminds us all to find the good in every person, no matter their past actions. Never give up on someone. Really makes us appreciate the teachers, mentors, coaches, and other figures who have shaped each of us.

The film really brings insights into the emotional challenges of being a mentor figure as well. The conflicts that both protagonists face really intertwine with each other throughout!

The theater was absolutely quiet the entirety of the film! We are all mesmerized and sucked in to the narrative and emotion brought by the actors, cinema, and story! This is absolutely a must-see!

This story really touched my heart; I really appreciated that this tough subject was addressed in a very respectful manner. A manner that inspires hope. Hope for both those hurting from child abuse and for those lovingly wanting to help the kids or people that are struggling with acting out.

There is always a reason people are tougher to love we only need to look beyond their poor behavior to see what is driving their pain. The "broken" are worth the effort.

This movie displays that message well. I really appreciated that the director and producers did it without making the movie cheesy or giving viewers false hope that somehow overcoming abuse is anything other than a lifelong process. Good job 👍.