/ / Guest Reviews

‘Gunslinger Girl’ Shows the Inevitable Tragedy When Man Tries to Play God

Manga artist Yu Aida fills “Gunslinger Girl” with well-developed characters as well as intriguing moral and ethical difficulties.
Audie Thacker on January 2021

‘Fatman’ Offers The Santa Claus That 2020 Probably Deserves

Fatman gifts us a violent yet fun Christmas movie, even if most of the characters get coal in their stockings.
L.G. McCary on December 2020

‘Alien Worlds’ Shares Fantastic Yet Bleak Sci-Fi

Netflix’s richly textured series provides the viewer with a great source of imagination, but its underlying theme leads to a dismal conclusion.
Parker J. Cole on December 2020

‘Over the Garden Wall’ Explores and Positively Subverts Fairy-Tale Worlds

Over the Garden Wall serves an animated, autumnal treat in which unknown lands still show the defeat of evil, no matter its shape.
Elijah David on October 2020

‘Haibane Renmei’ Almost Persuades Me That Its Ideas Are Christian

You should give this older anime series a chance, even if it has fallen into obscurity and if its ideas can’t quite take biblical flight.
Audie Thacker on August 2020

‘Heaven Came Down’ Portrays a Battle For the Soul

Bryan Davis’s new The Oculus Gate series begins with this stellar reading experience.
Meagan Myhren-Bennett on June 2020

‘Superman: Up in the Sky’ Points Towards Hero’s Roots

Writer Tom King sends Superman on a cosmic quest to save one little girl, reflecting the heart of Superman and humanity’s longings.
Adam Graham on June 2020

The World of ‘Kino’s Journey’ Is Beautiful, Yet Avoids Resolutions By Design

Kino’s Journey (2003) is a very atypical anime series, often offering viewers curiosity over resolution during its heroine’s travels.
Audie Thacker on June 2020

The Enduring Legacy of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I never tire of spending time in a story in which skilled agents are “holding the line between the world and the much weirder world.”
Daniel Whyte IV on May 2020

‘Yona of the Dawn’ Forsakes Cozy Palace Life to Challenge Its Royal Heroine

Yona of the Dawn’s anime (and manga) pivots from an early teen-romance setup to an adventure quest with surprising turns.
Audie Thacker on February 2020

The Chosen: Speculative Fiction Meets a Factual Savior

The Chosen streaming series may be one of the best Christian stories in our lifetime, thanks to smart biblical writing, great acting, and lavish visuals.
Cap Stewart on February 2020

The Chiveis Trilogy Attempts Serious Themes With Un-Serious Craft

The Chiveis Trilogy doesn’t just have bad worldbuilding or a silly plot, but a worse presentation of Christianity.
Josh Hugo on January 2020

‘Cats’ Gives Musical Fans a Dreamy Experience, But the Message is a Hot Mess

“Cats” (2019) idolizes idyllic memories of the past, but still shows real beauty within the darkness.
Marian Jacobs on December 2019

Frozen II: They Tried

The good news is, they tried.
Shannon McDermott on December 2019

‘The Tick’ Season 2 Points Viewers Toward Truth, Love, and Freedom

The Tick’s second (and final) season on Amazon has good dramatic moments and powerful themes about truth.
Adam Graham on September 2019

‘Joshua’ Offers Readers a Strange, Unbiblical Alt-Version of Jesus

Speculative stories often explore an alt-world version of Christ, but the Rev. Joseph F. Girzone took this too far in Joshua: A Parable for Today.
Audie Thacker on September 2019

‘Warm Bodies’ Portrays a Vivid Yet Grotesque Gospel Image

Actor Nicholas Hoult and the “Warm Bodies” cast help show the many emotions we experience while searching for life’s purpose.
Marian Jacobs on July 2019

‘The Promised Neverland’: Finding Freedom In A Demon-Haunted World

Life looks good for the children of Grace Field House, but then two children see behind the curtains.
Audie Thacker on June 2019

The Fellowship of ‘Tolkien’

Like most biopics, “Tolkien” deviates from true events, but accurately shows J. R. R. Tolkien as a man of true love and fellowship.
Marian Jacobs on May 2019

Captain Marvel Left Me Baffled and Disappointed

When the credits rolled for Captain Marvel, I didn’t leave feeling empowered or inspired. Instead I pitied her.
Marian Jacobs on April 2019

‘Shazam!’ Soars with Humor and a Virtue-Seeking Hero

“Shazam!” is rich with humor, religious symbolism, and a hero’s journey to virtue—Christian fans won’t be disappointed.
Marian Jacobs on April 2019

‘Maquia’ Shows A Different Side of Epic Fantasy

Many epic fantasies focus on adventurers, but Maquia explores the wonder of motherhood.
Audie Thacker on March 2019

‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’: A City Without Guilt

Ursula K. Le Guin’s imagined utopia has one terrible condition, and two responses that both ignore this evil.
Audie Thacker on January 2019

My Hero Academia: True Heroics in a Quirky World

My Hero Academia doesn’t just pit heroes versus villains, but seriously explores the nature of true heroism.
Audie Thacker on November 2018

In ‘The Twilight Zone’

So ‘The Twilight Zone’ opens, solemnly making it clear that you, the viewer, are not in Kansas anymore.
Shannon McDermott on September 2018

The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Touch of Humanity

It seems like a fairy tale, but this fantasy anime’s ancient magus is never what he seems.
Tamra Wilson on August 2018

Violet Evergarden: Letters of the Woeful Wages of Sin

If you love stories that genuinely make you weep, Violet Evergarden is the series for you.
Audie Thacker on May 2018

‘The Charlatan’s Boy’ is Captivating Fantasy

It’s a sad day in Corenwald when no one believes in feechies anymore.
Shannon McDermott on May 2018

‘Meant to Be’ Explores Half a Good Message

Reviewer Audie Thacker praises the concept of PureFlix’s “Meant To Be,” but believes the film’s themes fall apart.
Audie Thacker on April 2018

Five Reasons to Enjoy ‘Pacific Rim’

In “Pacific Rim,” come for the epic robots fighting monsters, stay for the noble themes and fantastic character development.
Bethany A. Jennings on March 2018

Annihilation: A Malignant Transcendence

The movie Annihilation shows a universe imagined to have generated itself without purpose or plan.
Travis Perry on March 2018

‘Merlin’s Mirror’: a Legend Remade

In Merlin’s Mirror, the legend of Arthur is reborn into science fiction.
Shannon McDermott on January 2018

Re:Zero’s Second Chances Only Make Life Worse

In Re:Zero, modern teen Natsuke Subaru is thrown into a world of second chances to save lives, yet he’s pushed to his limits.
Audie Thacker on January 2018

The Sweet and Simple Beauty of ‘Small One’

You’ve all heard of a boy and his dog. This is the story of a boy and his donkey.
Shannon McDermott on December 2017

‘Hogfather’: In the End, a Discworld Story about Nothing

Terry Pratchett’s standalone Christmas spoof “Hogfather” rings with absurdity, even in its attempted serious ideas.
Audie Thacker on November 2017

Beauty and the Beast: The Other One

In 1991, Disney released a magnificent version of the classic fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast”. Then they released another version.
Shannon McDermott on September 2017

‘Apologetics and the Christian Imagination’ Explores Why God Gives Us Stories

Professor Holly Ordway shows how God gives us both reason and imagination to help us find His truth.
Mike Duran on September 2017

Suddenly, ‘The Tick’ Bounds In and Brings Back Goodness

Mild-mannered accountant Arthur suffers from mental trauma in a grim world, until The Tick comes bounding in.
Adam Graham on September 2017

‘Tarzan Of The Apes’ Is A Dark, Misguided Adventure

Everybody knows Tarzan, but most don’t know “Tarzan of the Apes.”
Shannon McDermott on August 2017

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ Brews A Great Story With Iffy Ideas

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s characters struggle with guilt, regret, and lost humanity.
Audie Thacker on July 2017

Explore the best Christian fantasy.

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Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Apr 16, 2021

58. How Did We Enjoy the Heroic Majesty of ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’? Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Apr 13, 2021

How Reading Epic Fantasy Helps Me Be Brave Articles | Josiah DeGraaf on Apr 9, 2021

All the Queen’s Sons Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Apr 9, 2021

Implicit Magic in Fantasy Fiction Can Stir Our Longing for Transcendent Myth Articles | Elijah David on Apr 7, 2021

57. How Do Stories Help Us Imagine Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection? | Epic Resurrection, part 4 Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Apr 6, 2021

The PRISM Conspiracy Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Apr 2, 2021

To Help Kids Learn Pop Culture Engagement, Parents Must Work Together Articles | Jason Joyner on Mar 31, 2021

56. Which Biblical Qualities Empower Strong Female Characters? | with Elisabeth Wheatley Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Mar 30, 2021

Why We Long for Movies to Match Their Books Articles | L.G. McCary on Mar 25, 2021

Find fantastical Christian novels

Find fantastical Christian reviews

Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World “M. D. Boncher’s fantasy novel Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World is a fascinating blend of history, religion, and sinister folklore.” —Lorehaven on Apr 16, 2021

All the Queen’s Sons “All The Queen’s Sons from Elizabeth Kipps will delight both young and old fans of level-headed girls, charming princes, and lovely lands.” —Lorehaven on Apr 9, 2021

The PRISM Conspiracy “Mary Schlegel’s gentle sci-fi The PRISM Conspiracy offers an attractive blend of possibility and sweet romance.” —Lorehaven on Apr 2, 2021

Songflight “Songflight by Michelle M. Bruhn tells the gripping story of dragon singer Alísa, and is best for lovers of fantasy and dragons.” —Lorehaven on Mar 19, 2021

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast

58. How Did We Enjoy the Heroic Majesty of ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’? Fantastical Truth, Apr 13, 2021

57. How Do Stories Help Us Imagine Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection? | Epic Resurrection, part 4 Fantastical Truth, Apr 6, 2021

56. Which Biblical Qualities Empower Strong Female Characters? | with Elisabeth Wheatley Fantastical Truth, Mar 30, 2021

55. Should Christians Embrace Cultural and Digital Enclaves? | with Austin Gunderson Fantastical Truth, Mar 16, 2021

Browse back issues (2018–2020)

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

The Symbolic Nature of Sci-fi Apocalyptic Disaster Films Parker J. Cole, Apr 14

Introduction: Hunger by Jill Williamson Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 12

The Beauty of Short Horror Films Parker J. Cole, Mar 31

Banning Books Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 22

Find more from Christian creators

Get exclusive shirts and beyondin the Lorehaven store

Explore the book The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ

Does ‘Engaging Popular Culture’ Include Right-Wing Talk Radio? E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 9

Join My Livestream This Thursday: Seven Ways to Find Truth in Fantastic Stories E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6

‘Gunslinger Girl’ Shows the Inevitable Tragedy When Man Tries to Play God Manga artist Yu Aida fills “Gunslinger Girl” with well-developed characters as well as intriguing moral and ethical difficulties. Audie Thacker on January 2021

‘Fatman’ Offers The Santa Claus That 2020 Probably Deserves Fatman gifts us a violent yet fun Christmas movie, even if most of the characters get coal in their stockings. L.G. McCary on December 2020

‘Alien Worlds’ Shares Fantastic Yet Bleak Sci-Fi Netflix’s richly textured series provides the viewer with a great source of imagination, but its underlying theme leads to a dismal conclusion. Parker J. Cole on December 2020

‘Over the Garden Wall’ Explores and Positively Subverts Fairy-Tale Worlds Over the Garden Wall serves an animated, autumnal treat in which unknown lands still show the defeat of evil, no matter its shape. Elijah David on October 2020

‘Haibane Renmei’ Almost Persuades Me That Its Ideas Are Christian You should give this older anime series a chance, even if it has fallen into obscurity and if its ideas can’t quite take biblical flight. Audie Thacker on August 2020

‘Heaven Came Down’ Portrays a Battle For the Soul Bryan Davis’s new The Oculus Gate series begins with this stellar reading experience. Meagan Myhren-Bennett on June 2020

‘Superman: Up in the Sky’ Points Towards Hero’s Roots Writer Tom King sends Superman on a cosmic quest to save one little girl, reflecting the heart of Superman and humanity’s longings. Adam Graham on June 2020

The World of ‘Kino’s Journey’ Is Beautiful, Yet Avoids Resolutions By Design Kino’s Journey (2003) is a very atypical anime series, often offering viewers curiosity over resolution during its heroine’s travels. Audie Thacker on June 2020

The Enduring Legacy of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I never tire of spending time in a story in which skilled agents are “holding the line between the world and the much weirder world.” Daniel Whyte IV on May 2020

‘Yona of the Dawn’ Forsakes Cozy Palace Life to Challenge Its Royal Heroine Yona of the Dawn’s anime (and manga) pivots from an early teen-romance setup to an adventure quest with surprising turns. Audie Thacker on February 2020

The Chosen: Speculative Fiction Meets a Factual Savior The Chosen streaming series may be one of the best Christian stories in our lifetime, thanks to smart biblical writing, great acting, and lavish visuals. Cap Stewart on February 2020

The Chiveis Trilogy Attempts Serious Themes With Un-Serious Craft The Chiveis Trilogy doesn’t just have bad worldbuilding or a silly plot, but a worse presentation of Christianity. Josh Hugo on January 2020

‘Cats’ Gives Musical Fans a Dreamy Experience, But the Message is a Hot Mess “Cats” (2019) idolizes idyllic memories of the past, but still shows real beauty within the darkness. Marian Jacobs on December 2019

Frozen II: They Tried The good news is, they tried. Shannon McDermott on December 2019

‘The Tick’ Season 2 Points Viewers Toward Truth, Love, and Freedom The Tick’s second (and final) season on Amazon has good dramatic moments and powerful themes about truth. Adam Graham on September 2019

‘Joshua’ Offers Readers a Strange, Unbiblical Alt-Version of Jesus Speculative stories often explore an alt-world version of Christ, but the Rev. Joseph F. Girzone took this too far in Joshua: A Parable for Today. Audie Thacker on September 2019

‘Warm Bodies’ Portrays a Vivid Yet Grotesque Gospel Image Actor Nicholas Hoult and the “Warm Bodies” cast help show the many emotions we experience while searching for life’s purpose. Marian Jacobs on July 2019

‘The Promised Neverland’: Finding Freedom In A Demon-Haunted World Life looks good for the children of Grace Field House, but then two children see behind the curtains. Audie Thacker on June 2019

The Fellowship of ‘Tolkien’ Like most biopics, “Tolkien” deviates from true events, but accurately shows J. R. R. Tolkien as a man of true love and fellowship. Marian Jacobs on May 2019

Captain Marvel Left Me Baffled and Disappointed When the credits rolled for Captain Marvel, I didn’t leave feeling empowered or inspired. Instead I pitied her. Marian Jacobs on April 2019

‘Shazam!’ Soars with Humor and a Virtue-Seeking Hero “Shazam!” is rich with humor, religious symbolism, and a hero’s journey to virtue—Christian fans won’t be disappointed. Marian Jacobs on April 2019

‘Maquia’ Shows A Different Side of Epic Fantasy Many epic fantasies focus on adventurers, but Maquia explores the wonder of motherhood. Audie Thacker on March 2019

‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’: A City Without Guilt Ursula K. Le Guin’s imagined utopia has one terrible condition, and two responses that both ignore this evil. Audie Thacker on January 2019

My Hero Academia: True Heroics in a Quirky World My Hero Academia doesn’t just pit heroes versus villains, but seriously explores the nature of true heroism. Audie Thacker on November 2018

In ‘The Twilight Zone’ So ‘The Twilight Zone’ opens, solemnly making it clear that you, the viewer, are not in Kansas anymore. Shannon McDermott on September 2018

The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Touch of Humanity It seems like a fairy tale, but this fantasy anime’s ancient magus is never what he seems. Tamra Wilson on August 2018

Violet Evergarden: Letters of the Woeful Wages of Sin If you love stories that genuinely make you weep, Violet Evergarden is the series for you. Audie Thacker on May 2018

‘The Charlatan’s Boy’ is Captivating Fantasy It’s a sad day in Corenwald when no one believes in feechies anymore. Shannon McDermott on May 2018

‘Meant to Be’ Explores Half a Good Message Reviewer Audie Thacker praises the concept of PureFlix’s “Meant To Be,” but believes the film’s themes fall apart. Audie Thacker on April 2018

Five Reasons to Enjoy ‘Pacific Rim’ In “Pacific Rim,” come for the epic robots fighting monsters, stay for the noble themes and fantastic character development. Bethany A. Jennings on March 2018

Annihilation: A Malignant Transcendence The movie Annihilation shows a universe imagined to have generated itself without purpose or plan. Travis Perry on March 2018

‘Merlin’s Mirror’: a Legend Remade In Merlin’s Mirror, the legend of Arthur is reborn into science fiction. Shannon McDermott on January 2018

Re:Zero’s Second Chances Only Make Life Worse In Re:Zero, modern teen Natsuke Subaru is thrown into a world of second chances to save lives, yet he’s pushed to his limits. Audie Thacker on January 2018

The Sweet and Simple Beauty of ‘Small One’ You’ve all heard of a boy and his dog. This is the story of a boy and his donkey. Shannon McDermott on December 2017

‘Hogfather’: In the End, a Discworld Story about Nothing Terry Pratchett’s standalone Christmas spoof “Hogfather” rings with absurdity, even in its attempted serious ideas. Audie Thacker on November 2017

Beauty and the Beast: The Other One In 1991, Disney released a magnificent version of the classic fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast”. Then they released another version. Shannon McDermott on September 2017

‘Apologetics and the Christian Imagination’ Explores Why God Gives Us Stories Professor Holly Ordway shows how God gives us both reason and imagination to help us find His truth. Mike Duran on September 2017

Suddenly, ‘The Tick’ Bounds In and Brings Back Goodness Mild-mannered accountant Arthur suffers from mental trauma in a grim world, until The Tick comes bounding in. Adam Graham on September 2017

‘Tarzan Of The Apes’ Is A Dark, Misguided Adventure Everybody knows Tarzan, but most don’t know “Tarzan of the Apes.” Shannon McDermott on August 2017

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ Brews A Great Story With Iffy Ideas Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s characters struggle with guilt, regret, and lost humanity. Audie Thacker on July 2017

Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Apr 16, 2021

58. How Did We Enjoy the Heroic Majesty of ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’?

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Apr 13, 2021

How Reading Epic Fantasy Helps Me Be Brave

Articles | Josiah DeGraaf on Apr 9, 2021

All the Queen’s Sons

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Apr 9, 2021

Implicit Magic in Fantasy Fiction Can Stir Our Longing for Transcendent Myth

Articles | Elijah David on Apr 7, 2021

57. How Do Stories Help Us Imagine Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection? | Epic Resurrection, part 4

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Apr 6, 2021

The PRISM Conspiracy

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Apr 2, 2021

To Help Kids Learn Pop Culture Engagement, Parents Must Work Together

Articles | Jason Joyner on Mar 31, 2021

56. Which Biblical Qualities Empower Strong Female Characters? | with Elisabeth Wheatley

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Mar 30, 2021

Why We Long for Movies to Match Their Books

Articles | L.G. McCary on Mar 25, 2021

Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World

“M. D. Boncher’s fantasy novel Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World is a fascinating blend of history, religion, and sinister folklore.”
—Lorehaven on Apr 16, 2021

All the Queen’s Sons

“All The Queen’s Sons from Elizabeth Kipps will delight both young and old fans of level-headed girls, charming princes, and lovely lands.”
—Lorehaven on Apr 9, 2021

The PRISM Conspiracy

“Mary Schlegel’s gentle sci-fi The PRISM Conspiracy offers an attractive blend of possibility and sweet romance.”
—Lorehaven on Apr 2, 2021

Songflight

“Songflight by Michelle M. Bruhn tells the gripping story of dragon singer Alísa, and is best for lovers of fantasy and dragons.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 19, 2021

58. How Did We Enjoy the Heroic Majesty of ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’?
Fantastical Truth, Apr 13, 2021

57. How Do Stories Help Us Imagine Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection? | Epic Resurrection, part 4
Fantastical Truth, Apr 6, 2021

56. Which Biblical Qualities Empower Strong Female Characters? | with Elisabeth Wheatley
Fantastical Truth, Mar 30, 2021

55. Should Christians Embrace Cultural and Digital Enclaves? | with Austin Gunderson
Fantastical Truth, Mar 16, 2021

The Symbolic Nature of Sci-fi Apocalyptic Disaster Films
Parker J. Cole, Apr 14

Introduction: Hunger by Jill Williamson
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 12

The Beauty of Short Horror Films
Parker J. Cole, Mar 31

Banning Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 22

Get exclusive shirts and beyond
in the Lorehaven store

Does ‘Engaging Popular Culture’ Include Right-Wing Talk Radio?
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 9

Join My Livestream This Thursday: Seven Ways to Find Truth in Fantastic Stories
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6

‘Gunslinger Girl’ Shows the Inevitable Tragedy When Man Tries to Play God

Manga artist Yu Aida fills “Gunslinger Girl” with well-developed characters as well as intriguing moral and ethical difficulties.
Audie Thacker on January 2021

‘Fatman’ Offers The Santa Claus That 2020 Probably Deserves

Fatman gifts us a violent yet fun Christmas movie, even if most of the characters get coal in their stockings.
L.G. McCary on December 2020

‘Alien Worlds’ Shares Fantastic Yet Bleak Sci-Fi

Netflix’s richly textured series provides the viewer with a great source of imagination, but its underlying theme leads to a dismal conclusion.
Parker J. Cole on December 2020

‘Over the Garden Wall’ Explores and Positively Subverts Fairy-Tale Worlds

Over the Garden Wall serves an animated, autumnal treat in which unknown lands still show the defeat of evil, no matter its shape.
Elijah David on October 2020

‘Haibane Renmei’ Almost Persuades Me That Its Ideas Are Christian

You should give this older anime series a chance, even if it has fallen into obscurity and if its ideas can’t quite take biblical flight.
Audie Thacker on August 2020

‘Heaven Came Down’ Portrays a Battle For the Soul

Bryan Davis’s new The Oculus Gate series begins with this stellar reading experience.
Meagan Myhren-Bennett on June 2020

‘Superman: Up in the Sky’ Points Towards Hero’s Roots

Writer Tom King sends Superman on a cosmic quest to save one little girl, reflecting the heart of Superman and humanity’s longings.
Adam Graham on June 2020

The World of ‘Kino’s Journey’ Is Beautiful, Yet Avoids Resolutions By Design

Kino’s Journey (2003) is a very atypical anime series, often offering viewers curiosity over resolution during its heroine’s travels.
Audie Thacker on June 2020

The Enduring Legacy of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I never tire of spending time in a story in which skilled agents are “holding the line between the world and the much weirder world.”
Daniel Whyte IV on May 2020

‘Yona of the Dawn’ Forsakes Cozy Palace Life to Challenge Its Royal Heroine

Yona of the Dawn’s anime (and manga) pivots from an early teen-romance setup to an adventure quest with surprising turns.
Audie Thacker on February 2020

The Chosen: Speculative Fiction Meets a Factual Savior

The Chosen streaming series may be one of the best Christian stories in our lifetime, thanks to smart biblical writing, great acting, and lavish visuals.
Cap Stewart on February 2020

The Chiveis Trilogy Attempts Serious Themes With Un-Serious Craft

The Chiveis Trilogy doesn’t just have bad worldbuilding or a silly plot, but a worse presentation of Christianity.
Josh Hugo on January 2020

‘Cats’ Gives Musical Fans a Dreamy Experience, But the Message is a Hot Mess

“Cats” (2019) idolizes idyllic memories of the past, but still shows real beauty within the darkness.
Marian Jacobs on December 2019

Frozen II: They Tried

The good news is, they tried.
Shannon McDermott on December 2019

‘The Tick’ Season 2 Points Viewers Toward Truth, Love, and Freedom

The Tick’s second (and final) season on Amazon has good dramatic moments and powerful themes about truth.
Adam Graham on September 2019

‘Joshua’ Offers Readers a Strange, Unbiblical Alt-Version of Jesus

Speculative stories often explore an alt-world version of Christ, but the Rev. Joseph F. Girzone took this too far in Joshua: A Parable for Today.
Audie Thacker on September 2019

‘Warm Bodies’ Portrays a Vivid Yet Grotesque Gospel Image

Actor Nicholas Hoult and the “Warm Bodies” cast help show the many emotions we experience while searching for life’s purpose.
Marian Jacobs on July 2019

‘The Promised Neverland’: Finding Freedom In A Demon-Haunted World

Life looks good for the children of Grace Field House, but then two children see behind the curtains.
Audie Thacker on June 2019

The Fellowship of ‘Tolkien’

Like most biopics, “Tolkien” deviates from true events, but accurately shows J. R. R. Tolkien as a man of true love and fellowship.
Marian Jacobs on May 2019

Captain Marvel Left Me Baffled and Disappointed

When the credits rolled for Captain Marvel, I didn’t leave feeling empowered or inspired. Instead I pitied her.
Marian Jacobs on April 2019

‘Shazam!’ Soars with Humor and a Virtue-Seeking Hero

“Shazam!” is rich with humor, religious symbolism, and a hero’s journey to virtue—Christian fans won’t be disappointed.
Marian Jacobs on April 2019

‘Maquia’ Shows A Different Side of Epic Fantasy

Many epic fantasies focus on adventurers, but Maquia explores the wonder of motherhood.
Audie Thacker on March 2019

‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’: A City Without Guilt

Ursula K. Le Guin’s imagined utopia has one terrible condition, and two responses that both ignore this evil.
Audie Thacker on January 2019

My Hero Academia: True Heroics in a Quirky World

My Hero Academia doesn’t just pit heroes versus villains, but seriously explores the nature of true heroism.
Audie Thacker on November 2018

In ‘The Twilight Zone’

So ‘The Twilight Zone’ opens, solemnly making it clear that you, the viewer, are not in Kansas anymore.
Shannon McDermott on September 2018

The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Touch of Humanity

It seems like a fairy tale, but this fantasy anime’s ancient magus is never what he seems.
Tamra Wilson on August 2018

Violet Evergarden: Letters of the Woeful Wages of Sin

If you love stories that genuinely make you weep, Violet Evergarden is the series for you.
Audie Thacker on May 2018

‘The Charlatan’s Boy’ is Captivating Fantasy

It’s a sad day in Corenwald when no one believes in feechies anymore.
Shannon McDermott on May 2018

‘Meant to Be’ Explores Half a Good Message

Reviewer Audie Thacker praises the concept of PureFlix’s “Meant To Be,” but believes the film’s themes fall apart.
Audie Thacker on April 2018

Five Reasons to Enjoy ‘Pacific Rim’

In “Pacific Rim,” come for the epic robots fighting monsters, stay for the noble themes and fantastic character development.
Bethany A. Jennings on March 2018

Annihilation: A Malignant Transcendence

The movie Annihilation shows a universe imagined to have generated itself without purpose or plan.
Travis Perry on March 2018

‘Merlin’s Mirror’: a Legend Remade

In Merlin’s Mirror, the legend of Arthur is reborn into science fiction.
Shannon McDermott on January 2018

Re:Zero’s Second Chances Only Make Life Worse

In Re:Zero, modern teen Natsuke Subaru is thrown into a world of second chances to save lives, yet he’s pushed to his limits.
Audie Thacker on January 2018

The Sweet and Simple Beauty of ‘Small One’

You’ve all heard of a boy and his dog. This is the story of a boy and his donkey.
Shannon McDermott on December 2017

‘Hogfather’: In the End, a Discworld Story about Nothing

Terry Pratchett’s standalone Christmas spoof “Hogfather” rings with absurdity, even in its attempted serious ideas.
Audie Thacker on November 2017

Beauty and the Beast: The Other One

In 1991, Disney released a magnificent version of the classic fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast”. Then they released another version.
Shannon McDermott on September 2017

‘Apologetics and the Christian Imagination’ Explores Why God Gives Us Stories

Professor Holly Ordway shows how God gives us both reason and imagination to help us find His truth.
Mike Duran on September 2017

Suddenly, ‘The Tick’ Bounds In and Brings Back Goodness

Mild-mannered accountant Arthur suffers from mental trauma in a grim world, until The Tick comes bounding in.
Adam Graham on September 2017

‘Tarzan Of The Apes’ Is A Dark, Misguided Adventure

Everybody knows Tarzan, but most don’t know “Tarzan of the Apes.”
Shannon McDermott on August 2017

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ Brews A Great Story With Iffy Ideas

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s characters struggle with guilt, regret, and lost humanity.
Audie Thacker on July 2017