The Shack Parent Guide

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.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.