THE FIRING SQUAD

Based on a true story, THE FIRING SQUAD stars Kevin Sorbo as an American prisoner on death row in an Indonesia prison who becomes a prison pastor and ministers to two new prisoners, played by James Barrington and Cuba Gooding, Jr., who are also sentenced to die. The low budget sometimes hurts THE FIRING SQUAD, but the movie’s terrific ending packs an emotional punch and shows the redemptive power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the story, James Barrington plays John Lone, an Australian “businessman” who’s gotten rich by traveling the world and being the middleman between drug manufacturers and local drug dealers. However, his run ends in Indonesia, when he’s arrested by the local authorities just as he’s about to fly out of the country.
Captain Tanu, the head of the country’s death row prison where John will be sent if convicted, visits him in jail and gloats. Meanwhile, John keeps proclaiming his innocence because he neither makes the drugs or sells them in Indonesia. Of course, the fact of the matter is that John is clearly guilty and, under Indonesia’s strict drug laws, deserves death.
In Captain Tanu’s prison, John gets into a fight with the man who arranged the deal with the local drug trafficker. He ignores the preaching of the prison chaplain, Pastor Lynbrook (played by Kevin Sorbo), who himself is scheduled to be executed. In the prison, John hears that one of the prisoners, a man named Samuel (played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.), has an escape plan. John and Samuel team up with a third prisoner. The plan involves them posing as journalists during a time when they know the prison gate will be guarded by a new man.
The escape plan goes well, until it doesn’t. Back in prison, Captain Tanu sticks John into solitary confinement with no food or water. Pastor Lynbrook leaves a Bible for John. He begins reading and gives his life to Christ.
As John comes under Pastor Lynbrook’s training, John moves from denial, anger and depression to acceptance and meaning. He even begins a prison romance with a female volunteer from overseas named Miriam, who has a heart to minister to the men on death row.
John keeps trying to get his sentence commuted, but as hope fades, will he still be able to find peace and contentment through Jesus Christ? Or, will he end up taking the dead man walk to the Firing Squad with his new friends in Christ, Pastor Lynbrook and Samuel?
The sound for the dialogue in THE FIRING SQUAD sometimes lacks theatrical gravitas. It could do with more music or more cinematic resonance. However, the ending is very powerful and packs a punch. THE FIRING SQUAD promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout its running time. The Gospel message is central to John’s character development. John goes through all six states or stages of dealing with death. For example, he goes from feelings of denial, anger, bargaining, and depression to acceptance and meaning, where he finds peace and fulfillment with Jesus Christ. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children due to the movie’s subject matter.