THE CURRENT
Pain and tragedy can have a purpose in this heartrending Christian drama.
Should You Watch It?
THE CURRENT is a good choice when you want a serious family drama about faith, friendship, grief, and reconciliation. Its Christian worldview is clear, and its redemptive moments point toward the possibility of healing after terrible loss.
The film does ask younger viewers to face a painful drowning scene. Jacob’s rebellion in the first half and the implied mooning incident may also require parental guidance. Still, the story shows a boy growing closer to God, accepting responsibility, and learning to give and receive love.
Choose it for older children and adults who can handle a heartrending story about tragedy. For younger children, select something gentler.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESA Christian family leaves Chicago to escape urban violence and takes over the Providence River Campground in Minnesota. Their 13-year-old son, Jacob, resents the move and refuses to help with the work.
Then Jacob meets Peter, the Christian boy who lives nearby. The two become best friends, getting into mischief while Peter shares Christ’s love and attitude with Jacob. As the boys’ friendship deepens, Jacob begins facing questions about faith, family, and loss.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means THE CURRENT is a good, compelling drama with a heartrending redemptive story. The review praises its strong Christian worldview, positive lessons, moral themes, and acts of reconciliation.
The source provides little detail about the film’s visual style, performances, editing, or other craft elements.
The Worldview
THE CURRENT presents a strong Christian worldview centered on prayer, reverence for God, Christian fellowship, the Bible, compassion, friendship, and moral growth. It shows a boy who begins with little interest in church but is drawn nearer to God through loss. His change becomes visible as he joins the Christian youth group, accepts responsibility, and willingly does his own chores and Peter’s.
The film also acknowledges how grief can cause someone to pull away from God and everyone else. Brian’s anger and hurt are treated seriously, while the story ultimately emphasizes redemptive moments, reconciliation, and God’s purpose and plan amid pain, trials, and loss.
The film’s central claim—that tragedy need not be meaningless—aligns with Scripture’s assurance that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian worldview full of prayer & reverence for God, Christian services at campground, with very strong moral/biblical worldview as boy learns to give and receive love, compassion, and friendship, plus reading of the Bible; no obscene or profane language; man with gun robs store and there’s a death by drowning; no sex; upper male nudity of boys swimming, and it’s implied boy shows his naked buttocks to other campers to “moon” them; no alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, boy speaks disrespectfully to parent and disobeys, and a grieving widower and father temporarily distances himself from God and church.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Jacob’s losses draw him nearer to God. How can grief change the way we pray, and where can we turn when we hurt?
Psalm 34:18 · Romans 8:28Jacob learns to accept responsibility and serve without being asked. What does his change teach us about repentance and faithful action?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · James 2:17Brian pulls away from God after losing his wife and son. How might a grieving person need both patience and loving support?
Galatians 6:2 · Romans 12:15Peter shares Christ’s love and attitude with Jacob. What could it look like for us to show that same love to a friend?
John 13:34–35 · Philippians 2:3–5The Final Word
THE CURRENT is a good, heartrending drama about faith strengthened through tragedy. Its drowning scene makes it unsuitable for younger children, but older children and adults may find its Christian message of responsibility, reconciliation, and hope worthwhile. WORTH THE TRIP for the right audience.
