MY DADDY’S IN HEAVEN
Coming to grips with God’s relentless mercy.
Should You Watch It?
MY DADDY’S IN HEAVEN is an average but entertaining and compelling Christian drama. Its strongest offering is a serious message about God’s mercy: grief can lead to bitterness and rebellion, but repentance and faith can open the way toward healing.
The film’s realistic performances, powerful cinematography, and top-notch soundtrack deepen that message. Its depiction of the confusion and listless depression that can follow death is especially effective. But the story’s “prodigal” portion includes hedonism, alcohol, drugs, casual sex, blasphemy, and an attempted rape that begins without becoming graphic.
This is a worthwhile choice for teenagers and adults who can process those elements with discernment. Parents should use care with younger children, particularly because the father’s death may be frightening. For those viewers, the practical answer is: watch it with discernment, not as an all-ages family film.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter a tragic accident takes Adam’s life, his young widow, Becca, spirals into depression, grief, and anger at God. An old friend invites her to the city, where Becca encounters alcohol, casual sex, and a hedonistic lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Becca’s young daughter and grandparents cling to Jesus and one another while trying to preserve their family and farm. Three generations must face grief, doubt, and the question of whether God’s mercy can reach them in despair.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means an average film with real strengths. The acting is startlingly realistic, sometimes resembling home movies of a genuine grieving process. Corbin Bernsen excels in every scene, and Jill Morrison gives the comedic relief effective timing.
Justin Peters’ soundtrack hits the right musical and emotional notes, while the cinematography adds depth without drawing attention to itself. The film also handles the confusion and listless depression following death well.
A few comedic scenes are played too lightly, especially by Lee Benton, who shines best in her single dramatic scene. The Yankee and Canadian cast’s Southern accents are inconsistent. Still, the performances, music, and visual work make this a compelling movie with an extraordinary message.
The Worldview
MY DADDY’S IN HEAVEN presents a strong biblical and evangelical Christian worldview. It includes repeated scenes of crosses, conversations about the Bible and churchgoing, prayers offered in Jesus’ Name, and a Gospel message centered on salvation through accepting Jesus Christ.
The film also portrays a fully articulated humanistic worldview that denies God and the afterlife and questions God’s goodness, providence, and mercy. Becca’s pain leads her into blasphemy, atheism, alcohol abuse, partying, flirting, and casual sex. The story ultimately rebukes these ideas and turns toward repentance, accepting God’s will, and embracing God’s relentless grace.
The film’s central longing is for mercy in the pits of despair. Scripture says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong Christian, biblical worldview includes seven prayers (with no fewer than four mentioning Jesus by Name), five scenes prominently featuring a cross and another three scenes with Bibles, 12 references to “God,” the “Lord,” or our “Maker,” one scene showing a believer leading a dying man to faith in Jesus, but movie also features a fully articulated humanistic worldview denying the existence of God or the afterlife, throwing a cross and a Bible on the floor, and denying God’s goodness, providence and mercy, but all ultimately rebuked
Foul Language
No foul language but mild vulgarities include the word “tush,” one instance of non-profane name-calling, and one off-color reference
Violence
Father’s death scene features some blood and may scare young children, there are two slaps (including one of a police officer) and the beginning of a non-graphic, attempted rape
Sex
The movie’s sexual content includes a husband and wife flirting, two kisses, heavy flirting, and two references to off-screen premarital sex
Nudity
No nudity but four scenes featuring a very light glimpse of female cleavage
Alcohol Use
Two scenes are shot in a bar, and two additional references to drinking take place inside a home
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
A syringe and drug paraphernalia are shown as a young man dies of an opioid overdose;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Main character steals $20 and becomes surly with an employee and twice it’s implied that characters disregarded a mother’s instructions on raising her daughter.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Becca’s grief turns into anger at God. How can we bring honest pain to God without letting pain define what we believe about Him?
Psalm 13 · Psalm 34:18The story contrasts a destructive “prodigal” life with repentance and return. What does genuine repentance look like in a person who has been running from God?
Luke 15:11–24 · 2 Corinthians 7:10The film centers on God’s relentless mercy. When have you needed mercy, and how should receiving mercy change the way you treat others?
Ephesians 2:4–5 · Colossians 3:12–13The family holds onto Jesus through loss and uncertainty. What practices help a family cling to faith when answers do not come quickly?
Romans 12:12 · Hebrews 10:23–25The Final Word
MY DADDY’S IN HEAVEN is not polished in every scene, but its performances, soundtrack, and biblical message make its treatment of grief and mercy compelling. Because of its mature themes, WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS. Parents choosing for younger children should use discernment.
