SONGBIRD
Impressively shot pandemic thriller with moral themes—for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
SONGBIRD earns three stars because it makes an impressive film under difficult circumstances. Written, shot, and released during the COVID-19 pandemic, it offers compelling moments, striking images of a desolate Los Angeles, and a story about people hungry for connection.
The film also carries serious content costs. Its language is frequent, its violence includes disturbing shootings and stabbings, and it contains brief sexual content. Its worldview mixes moral and Romantic elements with pagan ideas, including a villain who declares himself a “god” because he is immune to the virus.
Adults who can thoughtfully engage those concerns may find the film’s loyalty and hope worthwhile. Families with children or young teens should choose something else. The practical answer: watch it only if you are a discerning adult prepared for its content.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDuring a new coronavirus pandemic called COVID-23, Los Angeles residents live under mandatory quarantine orders. Nico, an immune courier, makes deliveries to wealthy citizens while maintaining a long-distance relationship with Sara and her grandmother.
When illness enters Sara’s home, Nico searches for an immunity bracelet that could protect the people he loves. Around them, other Angelenos face isolation, strained marriages, secret dealings, and a desperate need for meaningful human connection.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars mean this is an impressive, compelling film with noticeable flaws. SONGBIRD’s color correction recalls the TRANSFORMERS movies, and its establishing shots effectively introduce a desolate Los Angeles landscape.
The movie’s circumstances are part of its achievement: it was written, shot, and released during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Some handheld shots are distracting, though they fit the film’s intended feel. Overall, the craft gives the movie real visual interest, even when its rougher choices keep it from being fully polished.
The Worldview
SONGBIRD has a mixed moral and Romantic worldview. Characters care about other people’s health and take drastic measures to protect it. Loyalty and hope run through the story, while some characters idealize what life could be without the global pandemic.
The film includes subtle Christian elements: one character calls the pandemic “the Fall” and mentions angels. But the story does not provide a Savior to answer that Fall. Its pagan elements appear through two villainous characters who pursue personal gain and do whatever they want; one even declares himself a “god” because he is immune to the virus. The film makes clear that these characters are bad. A positive character is also a veteran, adding a patriotic element.
The story’s longing for connection and care points toward the biblical call to bear one another’s burdens: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Light mixed pagan worldview about a new global pandemic with moral and Romantic elements such as characters care for other people’s health and take drastic measures to ensure it and there’s a sense of loyalty and hope running through the movie too, subtle Christian elements where one character labels the pandemic as “the Fall” and mentions angels, but the Romantic elements come into play when some characters idealize what could be if not for the global pandemic, plus two villainous characters do whatever they want for personal gain, and one of them goes so far as to declare he’s a “god” because he’s immune to the virus, but it’s clear they are bad, and a patriotic element where a positive character is a veteran
Foul Language
About 25 obscenities, five mostly light profanities (including two strong Jesus profanities), an obscene gesture in one scene, and one woman calls her boyfriend stupid in one scene, but it’s meant to be endearing and joking
Violence
Some very strong, strong and light violence includes character threatens to kill someone, woman hits a man with a baseball bat and knocks him unconscious, character gets shot through the head, and although it’s not directly shown, viewers see blood splatter, man gets stabbed in the jugular with a pencil, and there’s blood shown, wife points a cocked gun at her husband, some scenes with hand to hand combat, and one scene with choking, another instance of stabbing with no blood, mention of war, and a mention of a young girl getting dragged away against her will
Sex
Husband goes to seek sexual comfort from a young woman and kisses her on the mouth when she’s on top of him, and a dating couple kisses on the mouth
Nudity
Adult man is shirtless in a few scenes, and viewers see part of his bare rear end in a shower scene, plus another man is seen without his shirt twice
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
A villain smokes and remarks he likes the idea that something has the power to kill him since he’s immune to the virus;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Marital discord, lying, name-calling.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film shows people taking serious measures for one another’s health. When does caring for others require sacrifice from us?
Galatians 6:2 · Philippians 2:3–4The characters long for meaningful human connection while isolated. How can your family pursue genuine connection when circumstances limit your usual activities?
Hebrews 10:24–25 · Romans 12:10One character claims to be a “god” because he is immune to the virus. What does Scripture say about human power, pride, and dependence on God?
Isaiah 42:8 · James 4:6The Final Word
SONGBIRD is impressively shot and contains real loyalty and hope. But frequent foul language, extreme violence, brief lewd content, and a mixed worldview make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it may be worth the difficult material. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a gentler family choice, see.
