SAINTS AND SOLDIERS
A flawed war drama with profound messages about faith and sacrifice.
Should You Watch It?
Yes, if you or your older teenager can engage a war drama that is more compelling in its themes than consistent in its storytelling. Saints and Soldiers presents prayer, sacrifice, redemption, and the human cost of war with genuine seriousness. The acting is good, and the direction is precise.
The low budget limits the battle scenes, which feel small-scale and almost like a television production. The storyline is also muddled, especially in explaining Deac’s motivations and balancing the military mission with his struggle to face the horrors of war.
The film’s content requires discernment, particularly its battlefield violence, smoking, profanity, and possible occult suggestions. For older teenagers and adults, it is worth seeing for its virtues, provided you are prepared for those concerns.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDuring World War II, four American GIs escape execution by the Germans. They join a British officer and attempt to cross German lines so they can deliver important intelligence about a German offensive to the Americans.
The story centers on Deac, a religiously minded soldier who speaks German fluently and once served as a missionary in Berlin. As the group travels through dangerous territory, Deac’s memories of the war and his former missionary work complicate the mission.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a worthwhile but imperfect film. The acting is good, and the direction is very precise. The movie’s redemptive themes give its war story weight, particularly its emphasis on prayer and men sacrificing themselves for others.
The limitations are visible. Its low budget makes the staging and battle scenes small-scale, almost like a television production. The storyline is the greater weakness: Deac’s motivations are not completely clear, and the central premise does not always seem to drive the action. The parallel focus on delivering intelligence and coming to terms with the horror of war leaves the film somewhat muddled.
The Worldview
The film has an overall redemptive theme. It exposes the human condition, extols prayer, shows good triumphing over evil, and portrays men sacrificing themselves for others. These are meaningful virtues, though the movie also contains questionable theological and moral elements.
The film suggests a disregard for immediate human authority through the unusual relationship between soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict. It also includes possible occult or spiritist content, as dead people appear to visit Deac in visions. Deac consistently reads what appears to be the New Testament, although the review notes minor suggestions that he may be Mormon and could be reading the Book of Mormon instead. The movie was produced and distributed by a Mormon company founded by a former Disney executive.
The film’s emphasis on sacrifice reflects Christ’s words: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mild Christian worldview with some questionable content suggesting a disregard for human authority, possible occult content where dead men appear to visit soldier in a vision, and a slight cultic relationship between soldiers on opposite sides of the battles; two obscenities and at least three exclamatory profanities such as “Oh God!”; battlefield violence with very little blood, one very bloody scene treating a soldier’s leg wound, and several deaths; no sex; no nudity; no alcohol; smoking consistently; and, man has visions of dead people, and soldier lies to another soldier. GENRE: War Drama
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The soldiers face fear, guilt, and uncertainty during war. What might prayer look like when you cannot control the danger around you?
Philippians 4:6–7 · Psalm 46:1The film emphasizes men sacrificing themselves for others. What makes sacrifice loving rather than merely reckless?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4The story raises questions about obeying authorities and following conscience. How should Christians respond when human authority conflicts with what is right?
Acts 5:29 · Romans 13:1–4Deac is haunted by the horrors of war. How can truth, repentance, and the hope of redemption address guilt?
Psalm 51:10–12 · 1 John 1:9The Final Word
Saints and Soldiers is a thoughtful, flawed war drama with good acting, precise direction, and a redemptive heart. Its muddled storyline and questionable content keep it from being an easy recommendation, but older teenagers and adults may find its messages about prayer and sacrifice worthwhile. WORTH THE TRIP.
