The Shack parents guide

The Shack Parent Guide

This deep look at a father dealing with loss explores some important concepts, including forgiving and healing.

Overall A

Mack (Sam Worthington) is dealing with the loss of his daughter. Then the grieving father receives a mysterious invitation to return to the shack where she was murdered -- from someone claiming to be God! This movie is based on a Christian novel by William Paul Young.

Release date March 3, 2017

Violence C+
Sexual Content B+
Profanity A
Substance Use C+

Why is The Shack rated PG-13? The MPAA rated The Shack PG-13 for thematic material including some violence.

Run Time: 132 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Mack Phillips (Sam Worthington) is a man carrying more baggage than an overseas-bound 747. His troubled childhood included a father who brutally abused both him and his mother. The terror pushed Mack to make a critical decision, the weight of which still hangs upon him.

The years have passed and now Mack has a lovely family and wonderfully supportive wife (Radha Mitchell). But when he takes his three kids for a camping trip, a seemingly inconsolable event occurs. After rescuing his son and older daughter (Gage Munroe, Megan Charpentier) from a canoeing accident, he returns to their campsite and discovers his youngest daughter (Amelie Eve) is missing. An exhaustive search eventually reveals her blood-stained clothes in an abandoned shack far into the woods.

The incident leaves Mack feeling hopeless and desperate for answers. He’s a regular church attender, yet he can’t imagine how a so-called loving God could do this to him. Then, on a winter weekend when his wife and children are away, he discovers a small card in his mailbox. The note’s typewritten message invites him to return to the shack. And it purports to be written by Papa—his wife’s pet name for God.

Prepared for a violent confrontation with the murderer, Mack makes his way through the snowy wilderness. What he eventually finds though isn’t at all what he (or we) might expect. In an opening in the dense forest he discovers a lush and flowery clearing where he meets Papa, Jesus Christ and Sarayu (Octavia Spencer, Aviv Alush, Sumire Matsubara)—better known to Christians as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The introduction is the beginning of a process that will ultimately change Mack’s life. He will gain valuable insight about his ability to forgive, how his preconceived notions alter his judgment of others and eventually alter his understanding of his relationship with deity.

This deep look at a father dealing with loss will likely be too abstract and/or frightening for children. Even some adults may have a difficult time riding the emotional cues in this film. Obviously, your experience will depend on your religious background and acceptance of, at the very least, the existence of God. Certainly, some Christians may object to the multi-cultural and dual-gender representation of these revered deities, which includes Octavia Spencer playing the role of God. However, if viewed as an allegory, this tale introduces and explores some important concepts. The story places greater emphasis on Mack’s healing process than promoting specific doctrine, making it more of a lesson on how we may move past barriers that stop us from progressing.

Thanks to A-list actors and a carefully crafted script, which is based on the incredibly popular novel by William Paul Young, The Shack comes across as a sincere offering to the many of us who are dealing with our own life-long scars and grudges. Just be prepared to become far more personally engaged with this movie than most other cinematic experiences.

Directed by Stuart Hazeldine. Starring Sam Worthington, Radha Mitchell, Octavia Spencer . Running time: 132 minutes. Theatrical release March 3, 2017. Updated

The Shack
Rating & Content Info

Why is The Shack rated PG-13? The Shack is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for thematic material including some violence.

Violence: A man physically abuses his wife and son; after his son speaks to a church leader about the problem the father whips him violently with a belt. Two teens are in a canoe that capsizes and one of them is trapped underneath: CPR is administered and the teen revives. A character is seen putting poison into a drink: it is implied this action has fatal consequences. A child goes missing and a long search uncovers a blood-stained sweater. It is later revealed that the child was murdered. Brief visuals of terrorism and other violent acts are seen in flashback. A character is mentally tortured over events that have taken place. A character is seen holding a gun. A large truck runs a stop sign and narrowly misses hitting someone. A character is struck by a vehicle and is later seen in hospital with some minor injuries. A character discovers the body of a child, we see a close-up of the legs and feet.

Sexual Content: It is vaguely implied that a child may have been sexually assaulted.

Profanity: None noted.

Drugs/Alcohol: Opening scenes depict an alcoholic who is abusive to his family. Poison is put in a drink.

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The Shack Parents' Guide

Forgiveness is usually seen as a religious concept. Do the consequences of not forgiving only affect people of faith? What tools or methods can someone use to overcome these feelings if they are not spiritually motivated to do so?

Are there actual physical or mental health consequences from harboring anger and hatred toward someone? Check out this information from a medical expert on the health benefits of forgiveness.

Mack discovers that he judges people according to his own beliefs and experience. What experiences have you had that may prejudice you toward others? What types of people come into your mind when you think of those who you mistrust? Where do these images and perceptions come from? How can you try to change these beliefs?

 

News About "The Shack"

This movie is based on the novel The Shack by William Paul Young.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Shack movie is May 30, 2017. Here are some details…

The Shack releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD) on May 30, 2017, with the following bonus features:
- Audio Commentary with Director Stuart Hazeldine
- “Touched by God: A Writer’s Journey” Featurette
- “God’s Heart for Humanity” Featurette
- “Heaven Knows”: The Power of Song with Hillsong United” Featurette
- “Something Bigger than Ourselves: The Making of The Shack” Featurette
- “Premiere Night: A Blessed Evening” Featurette
- Deleted Scene

Related home video titles:

A regretful man gets the rare opportunity to spend time with his deceased mother For One More Day. And a man is able to make sense of his life after he talks to The Five People You Meet In Heaven.