Director: Tim Chey
Starring: Kevin Sorbo, James Barrington, Cuba Gooding Jr., Isaiah Stratton
Release Date: August 2, 2024
Runtime: 117 minutes

A Controversial Film That Raises Tough Questions (But Doesn’t Always Answer Them Well)

The Firing Squad is a faith-based death row drama that takes inspiration from real-life executions while weaving in themes of redemption, justice, and religious salvation. Directed by Tim Chey (David & Goliath), the film follows three condemned prisoners facing execution by firing squad in Indonesia, exploring their final moments and the spiritual awakenings that may (or may not) come before death.

With a mix of strong performances, heavy-handed messaging, and a surprisingly brutal tone for a Christian film, The Firing Squad is a movie that will polarize audiences. It’s not subtle in its pro-faith, anti-death penalty stance, and its execution (no pun intended) is uneven—sometimes powerful, sometimes frustratingly simplistic.

Plot Overview: Three Men, One Fate

The film centers on three prisoners—Ethan (James Barrington), a young American convicted of drug trafficking; Miguel (Isaiah Stratton), a hardened criminal with a violent past; and Jaka (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a former gang leader who claims innocence. All three are sentenced to death by firing squad in Indonesia, a country known for its strict drug laws.

As they await execution, a Christian missionary (Kevin Sorbo) visits them, offering spiritual guidance. The film alternates between their tense final hours and flashbacks revealing their crimes, their regrets, and the circumstances that led them to this moment.

The climax revolves around whether they will find redemption before facing the firing squad—and whether the audience will be convinced that their transformations are genuine.

Strengths: What Works in The Firing Squad

1. Strong Performances from the Leads

• Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers the film’s most nuanced performance as Jaka, a man wrestling with guilt, pride, and the possibility of divine forgiveness.
• James Barrington brings raw vulnerability to Ethan, whose fear and desperation feel painfully real.
• Kevin Sorbo, while occasionally slipping into preacher-movie clichés, provides a grounded presence as the missionary trying to offer hope in a hopeless situation.

2. Unflinching Depiction of Capital Punishment

Unlike many faith-based films that shy away from harsh realities, The Firing Squad doesn’t sugarcoat the terror of execution. The firing squad scenes are tense, brutal, and emotionally charged.

3. Thought-Provoking Themes

The film raises valid questions:

• Is the death penalty just?
• Can people truly change in their final moments?
• Does faith offer real solace in the face of death?

These questions linger, even when the film’s answers feel overly simplistic.

4. A Refreshingly Dark Tone for a Faith-Based Film

Most Christian movies lean heavily on sentimentality, but The Firing Squad embraces a grittier, more somber atmosphere. It feels closer to Dead Man Walking than God’s Not Dead.

Weaknesses: Where the Film Falls Short

1. Heavy-Handed Messaging

The film’s anti-death penalty stance is clear (and arguably justified), but it often feels like a sermon rather than a nuanced debate. The prisoners’ conversions sometimes happen too abruptly, undermining their emotional weight.

2. Underdeveloped Backstories

While Ethan’s story is compelling, Miguel’s arc feels rushed, and Jaka’s past is only explored in broad strokes. More time spent on their histories could have made their redemptions more impactful.

3. Uneven Pacing

The first half drags with repetitive prison scenes, while the final act feels rushed—especially the climax, which wraps up too neatly given the film’s grim setup.

4. A Few Too Many Preachy Monologues

Kevin Sorbo’s character has multiple lengthy speeches about salvation that, while well-intentioned, disrupt the film’s natural flow. A subtler approach might have worked better.

Theological & Ethical Questions: Does the Film Do Them Justice?

The Firing Squad wants to be both a critique of capital punishment and a testament to Christian redemption. It partially succeeds, but its arguments sometimes clash:

• On one hand, it shows the inhumanity of executions, particularly in cases where defendants may be innocent or coerced.
• On the other hand, it suggests that only faith can bring true peace before death—implying that non-believers are doomed to die in despair.

This binary framing weakens the film’s moral complexity. A more balanced exploration of secular redemption (or even different religious perspectives) could have made its message more universal.

Final Verdict: A Flawed but Admirable Effort

The Firing Squad is not a perfect film. It’s preachy at times, its pacing is uneven, and some character arcs feel undercooked.

But it’s also one of the more ambitious faith-based films in recent years. It tackles tough subject matter without flinching, features strong performances, and avoids the overly sanitized feel of many Christian movies.

Rating: 6.5/10

For Fans Of: Dead Man Walking, The Shack, Paul, Apostle of Christ

Should You Watch It?
✅ If you’re interested in death penalty debates – The film’s portrayal of executions is harrowing and thought-provoking.
✅ If you appreciate faith-based films with darker themes – This isn’t your typical “feel-good” Christian movie.
❌ If you prefer subtle storytelling – The messaging is anything but subtle.
❌ If you want a fully balanced take on capital punishment – The film’s perspective is decidedly one-sided.

Conclusion: A Movie That Will Spark Discussion (For Better or Worse)

The Firing Squad won’t be for everyone. Its blend of gritty realism and religious fervor will frustrate some viewers while inspiring others. But in a genre often criticized for playing it safe, this film at least tries to grapple with real stakes—life, death, and what comes after.

Is it a great film? No.
Is it an important one? Maybe