Christian Review Magazine Issue 4 - April 2015 | Page 19

MOVIE L
REVIEW

onesome Dove Church tells the
true story of the formation of the
Lonesome Dove Church in Texas.
Tom Berenger (TV’s Major Crimes) plays
itinerant preacher John Shepherd in this
stirring faith-based western. Upon learning
that his estranged son is a wanted man,
John sets out to find him and try to save
him from the life he is leading.
But when he finds his son Isaac, played by
Greyston Holt (TV’s Bitten), John is pulled
into a world of violence, betrayal, and
revenge that tests him as a father and a
man of God.

Title:

LONESOME DOVE CHURCH
Rating:

Starring:

Tom Berenger, Greyston
Holt, Bruce Blain, Philip
Granger, Serge Houde
Written by:

Bob Thielke
Directed by:

Terry Miles
Genre:

Drama, Western
Running Time:

90 minutes

MPAA Rating:

Not Rated

Production Company:

Nassar Group North
Reviewed by:

Christian St John
Release Date:

Out Now : DVD, VOD

When I first heard about Lonesome Dove
Church I wasn’t holding my breath. The fact
is there aren’t too many Christian westerns
produced, also there isn’t an over
abundance of good westerns made these
days. With these two factors against it I
wasn’t holding out much hope for this
movie. But after watching, I have to say
that this is actually a really good movie.
The production looks and sounds great the camera work is very well done and truly
captures the power of redemption set
against the cold, bleak scenery. The story is
well written; I’m not sure how much of the
story is true (again, this movie is based on a
true story), but given the times the movie is
set in, it’s believable that what transpires in
the movie could well have happened as it
was shown.
As for the acting… Tom Berenger is likeable
as the oft stern preacher with a good heart,
and Greyston Holt plays his wayward son,
Isaac, well; these two men work well
together. Alex Zahara (TV’s Eternals) is a
llittle over the top as the bad guy of the
piece, Butch Henley, a twisted ex-preacher
with a thirst for greed, power, and revenge.
But in all, the acting throughout the film is
good by all involved.
As this is a western, there is some violence

to be had. Men are shot and killed both in
gunfights and execution style, there are a
couple of scenes involving fighting and
beatings, and there’s a quite graphic ‘knife
in the eye’ scene. As for bad language
there’s nothing too much to worry about,
save for a woman being referred to as a
‘trollop’ and ‘whore’. There are a few
scenes in which people drink liquor and one
scene in which a man smokes opium.
Although Lonesome Dove Church is not
rated, parents might want to check this
movie out for themselves before watching
it with younger children. With that said,
audie