FOOTPRINTS: ANGELS ARE REAL AND SOME EVEN HAVE FUR
A moving story of forgiveness, faith, and a faithful dog.
Should You Watch It?
FOOTPRINTS tells an inspiring story about a man and a dog who both come from abusive backgrounds and are brought together to help others. Its strongest qualities are its message of forgiveness, hope, love, and following God’s direction, even when that direction seems unconventional.
The film is low-budget, and the production quality is sometimes spotty. Some performances are overly dramatic, and the dialogue and narration do not always flow smoothly. Still, the effort of the cast and crew is evident, and the story is often more entertaining than many other movies.
If your family wants an uplifting Christian drama about overcoming hurt and serving others, this is worth watching.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBased on a true story, FOOTPRINTS follows David Hyler, a software engineer who loves dogs and carries deep wounds from an abusive childhood. After experiencing further loss, David meets Hope and adopts Cadie, a highly abused German Shepherd.
As David and Cadie learn to trust each other, their unusual partnership begins helping disadvantaged children, hospital patients, and elderly and infirm people. Together, they discover a new path of service, healing, and hope.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means FOOTPRINTS is a worthwhile but uneven film. The flashbacks are extremely well directed and acted, and the jeopardy is intense throughout much of the movie. David’s survival and Cadie’s survival give the story genuine stakes.
The film’s biblical ideas are presented positively, especially its emphasis on forgiveness, hope, love, and following God’s plan. However, more fluid dialogue and narration would have improved the movie, while some actors over-dramatize several situations. Its low-budget limitations are clear, but the uplifting message remains effective.
The Worldview
FOOTPRINTS presents a very strong Christian and moral worldview. It emphasizes forgiveness, hope, love, service to others, and following God’s plan even when that plan seems unconventional. David’s journey shows how fear, anger, and resentment can hinder a person’s ability to help others, while faith and forgiveness open a way forward.
The movie’s theological language is not always clear. Its subtitle, Angels Are Real and Some Even Have Fur, is confusing because “angel” can refer to a human messenger, a supernatural messenger, or God Himself as a theophanic angel. The film discusses this issue but never completely resolves it. It also presents a negative view of a pastor who repents without adequately establishing the reason for his earlier negativity.
At its heart, the film longs for healing from past suffering and for a life used to help others. Scripture gives this encouragement: “And let us not grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian, moral worldview with references to forgiveness, hope, and love with a negative view of a pastor who repents and a slight theological aberrancy that is discussed in the movie but never completely resolved; no foul language; minor violence when police arrest a man, a man throws a glass into the sink shattering it, boy has bloodied and bruised face from getting hit with a baseball bat (off-screen), and vicious dogs are tamed but not before evoking extreme jeopardy; man and presumably his wife in bed together and kissing; no nudity; no alcohol; no drugs; and, boy is abused verbally and emotionally by his father and grandmother, dog lives in abusive home before being rescued and mean cold preacher.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
David struggles with anger, resentment, and the question of why God allows suffering. How can forgiveness change the way we respond to those who have hurt us?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · Colossians 3:13David and Cadie serve children, hospital patients, and elderly people. What gifts or opportunities has God given your family to help others?
1 Peter 4:10 · Galatians 6:9The film emphasizes following God’s direction, even when it seems unconventional. How can we seek God’s wisdom when we are unsure what to do?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · James 1:5David’s past abuse leaves him feeling rejected and abandoned. What does Scripture say about God’s presence with people who are hurting?
Psalm 34:18 · Isaiah 41:10The Final Word
FOOTPRINTS is a low-budget but heartfelt Christian drama with a strong message about forgiveness, hope, love, and service. Its uneven production and ambiguous theological language keep it from being stronger, but its inspiring story makes it WORTH THE TRIP for families of all ages.
