JONAH HEX
An entertaining supernatural western with adult-only content concerns.
Should You Watch It?
JONAH HEX knows what kind of movie it is. This strange blend of spaghetti western, terrorist action thriller, and supernatural horror stays close to its B-movie roots, which keeps it relatively fun and entertaining without becoming overbearing. John Malkovich makes a striking villain, and the story gives its hero a strong moral purpose: stopping an evil terrorist from killing innocent people.
The cost is substantial. The film includes occult themes involving the dead and mystical healing, strong violence, foul language, sexual innuendo, alcohol, smoking, and a revenge motif that is not really rebuked. Those concerns make the movie unsuitable for children and young teens, even though its central conflict is morally clear.
If you are a discerning adult who can handle those elements, JONAH HEX is worth the trip; families with younger viewers should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJonah Hex is a scarred bounty hunter in the Wild West with supernatural protection and a reputation for getting impossible jobs done. After his family is murdered, Jonah is hired by the American government to stop his old nemesis, Confederate colonel Quentin Turnbull.
Turnbull is preparing a powerful new weapon to attack the United States. Jonah agrees to help, but he also wants revenge against the man who destroyed his family.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means JONAH HEX is a good, entertaining film with clear limitations. Its unusual mixture of western, terrorist thriller, and supernatural horror works because the movie does not pretend to be more than a B-movie adventure.
The film is fun without being overbearing, and John Malkovich gives a striking performance as the villain. The story’s moral element also helps: the hero works to stop an evil terrorist from killing more innocent people. Still, the occult material, violence, language, and innuendo keep the entertainment from being a clean recommendation.
The Worldview
JONAH HEX presents a strong but mixed pagan worldview with biblical, moral, and backhanded Christian elements. It references Hell and the powers ruling it, while also centering an anti-hero who works with the U.S. Government to stop a terrorist from destroying Washington, D.C. with a powerful weapon.
The film’s moral center is its opposition to mass murder and its hero’s willingness to protect innocent people. But that moral purpose is mixed with supernatural powers, mystical healing, occult communication with the dead, and a revenge story that is not truly rebuked. The film also includes a prostitute character and treats revenge as a continuing motivation rather than resolving it through clear repentance.
The desire to answer evil and protect the innocent is morally serious, but Scripture leaves vengeance to God: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God” (Romans 12:19).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong, somewhat mixed, pagan worldview with some biblical, moral and backhanded Christian elements, including references to Hell and the powers ruling Hell (a character tells the hero that the powers of Hell are waiting for him when he dies because they have plans for him) and anti-hero works with U.S. Government after the Civil War to stop a terrorist planning on destroying Washington, D.C. with a powerful new weapon, mixed with a revenge motif that includes a prostitute character who wants to go away with the hero, plus some overt occult references to anti-hero’s power to wake a dead person and get information from them, which he does twice, and to the hero getting healed from unmentioned magical American Indian powers; 10 or 11 obscenities (two or three during the end credits in a song) and three strong profanities; strong violence includes shootouts, explosions, villain destroys a town with powerful new weapon and blows up a train car with people on it, hero has dynamite gun, fighting, hero has power to wake up people’s dead corpses and get information from them and he does this twice, and villain burns hero’s house down with his wife and child in it but their deaths are not shown; implied prostitution as customer pays female lead’s character, implied fornication and hero lies in bed with woman who loves him, and she kisses his bare chest; upper male nudity and female cleavage, especially in scenes where female lead’s character wears only a corset outfit; alcohol use; smoking and a vague reference to Indian peyote smoking (the word peyote is not mentioned); and, revenge motif is not really rebuked and movie contains some spooky moments.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Jonah’s story is shaped by the desire for revenge. What is the difference between seeking justice and taking vengeance into your own hands?
Romans 12:19 · Micah 6:8The hero works to stop a terrorist from killing innocent people. What responsibilities do we have when others are in danger?
Proverbs 24:11–12 · Philippians 2:4The movie uses supernatural power to wake the dead and gain information. What does Scripture teach about seeking spiritual power apart from God?
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · Isaiah 8:19The film mixes moral elements with a pagan supernatural world. How can you recognize truth in a story while rejecting ideas that conflict with Scripture?
1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 · Acts 17:11The Final Word
JONAH HEX is entertaining B-movie adventure with a clear fight against evil, but its occult content, strong violence, language, sexual innuendo, and unresolved revenge motif limit its audience. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For families with younger viewers, consider.
