Growing up in the eyes of his preacher father, Sam always felt led to minister. That is until a girl’s tragic death causes him to stray to his other love, rock music. On top of the world, life is shaken yet again when his life is spared in from a fiery fate that takes one of his band members. Now it’s that call from God that Sam hears once again in the strict very conservative life he grew in. The question is will he be able to grow the church he wants, while keeping the uptight leadership happy.
Based on the true events of real life preacher Sam Allen who came to grow Dream Church out of Florida. It’s a power faith based movie with an essential heart of worship as its key foundation. The idea that even rock music can be used in worship music, is the fight that churches even today struggle with. In that way, Southern Gospel is timely for all to watch.
The film stars “Young and the Restless'” Max Ehrich who does a spot on job going through the stages of what the real Sam Allen overcame in his journey to Dream Church. That combined with the acting of “Walking Dead’s” Katelyn Nacor who plays the girl he grew up with and finally married on the road to his foundation. Both carries so much emotional pull that will have audiences glued to the screen as the Allen’s go through all the adversity surrounded around his newer ideas of what makes a church.
Finally, the film would not be complete without the so called enemy turned adversary, played by Supergirl’s Justice Leak, who also does a superb job of making you want to hate him for all the issues he serves on not only Sam but also his father when he was pastor. All in all the other underlying theme is the message of forgiveness and hope which is pivotal for any faith based movie.
Southern Gospel came out in theaters March 10, 2023, two weeks after Jesus Revolution, and is a sure film to see. It’s definitely stands with it as another movie to bring hope to a world of pain.