REVIEW: “The Forge” (2024)

WRITER’S NOTE: The following was originally posted on my Facebook page on September 3, 2024. 

Christian filmmaker Alex Kendrick was interviewed recently, and he was asked why some people seem to view the movies that he and his brother Stephen have made as “preachy.” Kendrick responded, “Intentionally, our goal is to edify the church and the Body of Christ first [and not as entertainment first].” Indeed, from Facing the Giants to Courageous, War Room and Overcomer (just to name a few), the brothers—along with their church and community in Albany, Georgia—have followed that lead into creating and crafting stories that are relatable, entertaining, challenging, and God-honoring. 

With their latest release, The Forge, the brothers highlight the importance of (and need for) discipleship for current and future generations. The story follows a young man named Isaiah, a high school graduate and only child of a single mother but clearly has no direction in his life other than playing basketball and violent shoot-em-up video games. More than that, Isaiah is also carrying anger and heartache over an absent father figure—and promises that were never made good on. While reluctantly looking for a local job, he eventually meets a businessman named Joshua Moore, who soon takes the young Isaiah under his wing, showing him not only how to be a responsible and respectable man, but also teaching him personal and Biblical tools to carry and apply to all areas of life. As Joshua tells Isaiah, “We don’t just call ourselves Christians.” 

The Forge and its central messages will probably not mean much for secular audiences. The Kendricks have accepted that not everybody will like their movies, nor that their template is what every filmmaker should follow. But for those of the faith (I’m one of them), the messages and proclamations that this story presents (including the “Romans Road” parallel, as well as prayer and choosing to forgive) are convicting, empowering, and completely worthwhile. In short, it’s a call to action. As the film’s tagline reads, “Whoever wants the next generation will get it.” It challenges and inspires those of us in the church to grow deeper in our faith and in our walk, and to get out of our comfort zones and seek those to pass this on to and train up. Such is also the power of film, as a tool to inspire such change.

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