After watching the trailer and reading a brief synopsis, my expectations for ‘The Shack’ were nothing spectacular. After watching the movie, which lasted almost two and a half hours, I was positively shocked at how moving and well-done the production was.

Actor Sam Worthington played “Mack”, a father whose daughter is abducted and violently murdered in a shack in the woods while on a family camping trip. The father then must face the pain and guilt that comes after this tragedy, which seems to consume him. The intense emotion that this role entailed was performed beautifully by Worthington, who was able to realistically act out the grief and anger that this situation would create.

Most of the movie is spent with Mack when he goes back to the shack where his daughter was killed, after receiving a suspicious letter in his mailbox. Here, he encounters three individuals who are meant to represent the three aspects of the Christian trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He engages and connects with these three as he attempts to understand the situation that he has found himself in.

The movie addresses many difficult and theological questions that most people have struggled to answer at some point in their life. Some of these scenes are joyous and wonderful, while others are harsh and dark, making the emotions felt during the film widely diverse. While the answers and responses may not align with the belief of every person, it is fascinating to gain insight into this story’s unique perspective.

People who are easily offended by beliefs that differ from their own probably would feel that this film is too provocative. More flexible individuals, though, will most likely find this to be an enlightening and thought-provoking experience. At the end of the film I found myself with tears in my eyes, a warm heart and a longing for the story to be continued.