For Prophet Film Review

For Prophet Film Review

Recapping the Film

I spent this past Saturday evening watching the film For Prophet. Under the direction of  Mark Steward Iverson, For Prophet sheds light on a Christian’s struggle to surrender to God’s purpose for their life.

Ben Marten plays the main character Damon Fisher. He wrestles with his faith due to significant loss and recurrent adversity which weighs him down. 

The weight of his problems is not unbearable for his readers thanks to Valentina Garcia and Enrico Natale. These two do a phenomenal job of providing comedic relief through their contrasting roles.

The Presence of Comic Relief and The Angel Raphel

I like the comedic relief the film offers because it brings humor to serious subjects that can trigger viewers.

That said, the comedic relief became annoying and unnecessary in certain scenes. The reason is that it made certain characters appear incompetent and clueless.

One being I was clueless about before watching For Prophet, was the angel St.Raphel. The Archangel St. Raphael appears in Tobit 5:1-22 as the angel responsible for guiding Tobias safely on his journey. 

Writers do an excellent job of recognizing viewers who are not Catholic may be unaware of who this being is. They do this by explaining who St. Raphael is during a pivotal point in the movie. 

Perhaps creators were using this Judeo-canonical reference to offer “biblical” support for viewers questioning the authenticity of the angel.

I also learned the name Raphael means healing of the Lord. Creators use the name to incorporate irony into the movie as several characters are broken by life’s trials. 

Significant Themes in For Prophet

The theme of brokenness acts as a mirror reflecting the negative attitude one can have toward God after enduring devastation. This reminds me of Naomi as she wants to stop living up to her name and embrace bitterness because of grief (Ruth 1:15-16).

The theme of grief is connected to spiritual warfare.  Ben Marten and Enrico Natale do a great job of depicting the stronghold Satan can have on a person’s life. Specifically, when unfortunate circumstances cause someone to lose faith in God. 

The writers also do a great job highlighting how the decision to obey God’s call can make you seem crazy.

Alas, it is through the craziness of obedience that God’s purpose manifests. The main character receives a breakthrough as he embraces his calling as a prophet by fulfilling his divine assignment.

Irony resurfaces as the prophet exposes the impure motives of an unsuspected villain. This theme aligns with scripture as Jesus also exposes religious leaders who appear holy but have vile hearts (Matthew 23:1-36).

Cultural Adaptation 

The Use of Modern Communication

Good and vile hearts are a part of human nature in every society. Themes such as grief, loss, doubt, justice, joy, and faith are also a natural part of humanity. 

The producers of For Prophet do an excellent job of presenting a somewhat biblically-based film in a modern context. I would have loved to see St.Raphel communicate with Damon through more than regular conversation.

Doing so would have been consistent with the way everyone else communicates in the movie. Allowing St.Raphael to communicate through social media or a cell phone would have also added to the humor of an angelic being adjusting to life on earth.

While happy about the film’s ability to include themes and modern forms of communication, they miss the mark ethnically.

The Absence of Ethnic Diversity

Creators could have done a better job of hiring an ethnically diverse cast resembling the melting pot America has become. A more diverse cast would send the message that people of all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds need God.

While not the producer’s intent, the lack of apparent ethnic diversity makes Damon Fisher seem like the great white hope. Damon is the hero in a town where only two affluent African Americans reside and no other culture is represented.

This suggests that only Caucasians and a few “lucky” African Americans need to trust in God. This is not the portal of racial reconciliation and unity that the Bible presents about the Kingdom of God (Acts 17:24-26).

Theological Inaccuracies?

Poor Portrayal of St. Raphael

In addition to providing an inaccurate picture of the Kingdom of God, For Prophet also misrepresents angelic beings. 

While humorous, the creators should not have made St. Raphael incompetent and less important than other angels. Dumbing down St.Raphael seems disrespectful to Catholic viewers who honor the angelic being for its role in the Lord’s work.

Along with dumbing down  St.Raphael, writers also misrepresent the angel by suggesting it was sent to earth because of sin.

This is theologically inaccurate since the only angels cast out of heaven rebelled against God (Revelation 12:7-9). This is also theologically inaccurate because Tobit 5:1-22 shows St. Raphael was sent to assist Tobias not learn a lesson.

For Prophet’s Misunderstanding About Death

Another theological inaccuracy revolves around death. Though a comforting thought, when one dies they will not be participating in everyday activities in heaven.

Instead, those who receive eternal life will be before the Lord’s throne worshiping him forever (Revelation 5:13). The beauty within this is the reality that we will be free of the cares, sorrows, and sicknesses of human life (Revelation 21:4).

While I do have some issues with For Prophet, overall it is an encouraging film that can strengthen one’s faith.

Do you intend to watch For Prophet? I would love to read your thoughts about the film. Your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated!