THE INVESTIGATOR
Redemptive, heartwarming faith-filled drama worth seeing.
Should You Watch It?
THE INVESTIGATOR is not polished in every respect. It starts slowly, some scenes move at a sluggish pace, and parts of the story and acting fall short of industry standards. Still, the production quality is acceptable, and the film becomes more intriguing once James begins teaching at a Christian high school.
What makes the film worth your time is its positive, faith-filled message. James wrestles with grief, anger, depression and doubt, then begins to rediscover his faith in God while encouraging his students. The story also presents redemption, truth and the evidence of Christ’s death and Resurrection.
You will need to accept some light obscenities, drug references and mild violence. For older children and adults looking for a heartwarming Christian drama, WORTH THE TRIP.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJames Buanacore has spent 20 years as a police investigator while trying to care for his wife, Stephanie, and their young son. After a tragedy at work forces him into early retirement and personal grief leaves him questioning God, James receives an unexpected opportunity at a Christian high school.
There, he teaches criminal justice and coaches baseball. His students, the school’s uneven priorities and James’s own wounded faith all create challenges that will test what he believes.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means THE INVESTIGATOR is worthwhile but imperfect. The film starts slowly, and some of its story and acting fall short of industry standards. Its production quality is acceptable rather than exceptional.
The movie becomes more engaging after James starts teaching. The dynamics of his character and persona grow more intriguing as he disciplines his baseball team, challenges his criminal justice students and works through his own spiritual struggle. The film’s strongest element is its positive faith-filled message, which gives the story its warmth and purpose.
The Worldview
THE INVESTIGATOR presents a very strong Christian and moral worldview. It portrays a pastor preaching briefly on Easter, prayer, grace, redemption and the truth of Christ’s death and Resurrection. James rediscovers his faith in God and shows his students evidence of Christ.
The film also treats redemption as something that can reach a grieving, angry and doubting person. James’s faith is not presented as an abstract idea; it becomes connected to how he teaches, leads and inspires his students. The Christian school’s failed leadership is challenged, and wrongdoing is rebuked rather than celebrated.
The film’s central longing is for truth after loss and doubt. Scripture gives that truth a firm center: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian, moral worldview includes a pastor preaches briefly on Easter, character rediscovers his faith in God and shows the evidence of Christ to his students, prayer, grace, redemption, and the truth of Christ’s death and Resurrection are extolled; six light obscenities; a man is shot in the chest and some blood is seen, a fight breaks out on a baseball field, and people are punched; no sexual content; no nudity; light drinking; light smoking and the Christian high school has a coach that gives his players over the counter drugs, but he’s caught and arrested; and, adult coach secretly violates drug laws, two rebellious students try to take advantage of weak teacher but they are rebuked, and some youths are bullies, but bullying is rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
James questions his faith after grief and failure. How can honest sorrow coexist with trust in God?
Psalm 42:5 · Romans 8:28The film connects redemption with truth about Christ’s death and Resurrection. Why are both the cross and the empty tomb essential to Christian faith?
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 · John 14:6James uses teaching and coaching to influence students. What makes a leader worth following, and how should leaders respond when they fail?
Mark 10:42–45 · James 3:1The school’s weak leadership hurts students, while bullying is rebuked. What responsibility do teachers, coaches and students have toward one another?
Galatians 6:1–2 · Ephesians 4:29The Final Word
THE INVESTIGATOR starts slowly and falls short of greatness in some areas, but its acceptable production supports a warm, Christ-centered story about faith, redemption and truth. For older children and adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP.
