THE LOST HUSBAND
A warm farm romance that works better at home for adults.
Should You Watch It?
The Lost Husband offers a gentle romantic drama with a bit of comedy and family conflict. Its strongest elements include commitment to marriage, helping others, forgiveness, and the idea that people may need to get their lives together before beginning again. The actors present the story well, and the film has the comfortable feel of a Hallmark movie.
The problem is that some elements feel random and unnecessary, leaving the movie ultimately unsatisfying. More importantly, occult references to a séance and palm reading are mixed into its morally uplifting content. The film suggests healing through these practices instead of directing its characters toward faith.
Because the movie has real merit but carries −2-level concerns, wait to watch it at home, and only if you are a discerning adult.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter her husband dies in a car accident, Libby takes her two children to her Aunt Jean’s farm in Central Texas. There, she begins learning the rhythms of farm life from O’Connor, the handyman, while facing pressure from her mother and questions about her own past.
As Libby adjusts to this new setting, a friendship with O’Connor begins to develop into something more. The farm becomes a place where she can consider what healing, responsibility, and a new future might look like.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a watchable, appealing film that falls short of being fully satisfying. The three leads—Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, and Nora Dunn—do a standup job, and the entire cast presents the story well. The costuming and music are also well done.
The film’s Hallmark-like blend of romance, comedy, and drama is easy to settle into. Still, some elements seem random and unnecessary, perhaps because the movie is adapted from a book. Its central idea—that Libby and O’Connor must get their lives together before starting afresh as a couple—comes through, but the execution is uneven.
The Worldview
The film has a mixed worldview. It presents several morally uplifting ideas: commitment to marriage, helping others, caring for family, and conversations about forgiveness. A divorced man continues looking after his sick ex-wife, and Libby’s effort to provide a better life for her children receives sympathetic treatment.
But these positive elements are mixed with occult references. A séance and palm reading are treated as ways to help Libby heal and communicate with her dead husband. The movie would have been better served if its characters had looked to faith for healing instead of witchcraft.
The film’s central longing is for healing, forgiveness, and the chance to begin again. Scripture calls believers to forgive one another “as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32), offering a deeper source of restoration than occult practices.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Mixed pagan worldview includes moral and Christian elements such as a mother tries to give her children the best life after her husband dies, a divorced man still looks after his ex-wife when she’s sick, one instance of the name of Jesus used in a song, helping others is encouraged, and there are conversations about forgiveness, but these positive elements are mixed with overt occult references where two female character have a séance and talk to the dead, one female character believes she can read palms, and there’s a passing comment about being made of “magic and resilience,” light patriotic conservative comment by a Texan man who dates a female he jokingly calls a “hippy,” and a passing joke about someone being homosexual, and two pairs of women dance together hand in hand at a party, one pair is clearly just friends, but the other isn’t as clear
Foul Language
Two obscenities (an “s” word and an “a” word), three light profanities, and a child gets in trouble for saying the “f” word off screen
Violence
Female child gets bullied by a boy in her class that leads her to bleed on the head
Sex
No sex scenes, but a few kisses on the cheek, and another couple kisses on the mouth twice, a snooty female character makes a refence to extramarital sex, there’s a passing comment about losing one’s virginity, and two pairs of women dance together hand in hand at a party, one pair is clearly just friends, but the other isn’t as clear
Nudity
No nudity, but two females show their midriffs, and a female seen in a towel after getting out of the shower
Alcohol Use
Social drinking depicted such as wine over dinner and beer at a party, character recalls that she had a “toxic relationship with vodka” in years past
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Smoking in a few scenes, but no drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Gossip, bullying, adult male defends a female child to a bully saying he kill him, and lying.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents commitment to marriage as a valuable virtue. What does Scripture teach about faithfulness and covenant love?
Malachi 2:14–16 · Ephesians 5:25Libby wants healing and a new beginning. Where does the Bible direct us when we need forgiveness and restoration?
Psalm 51:10–12 · 2 Corinthians 5:17The story includes helping others and caring for a sick former spouse. How can your family show practical mercy to people who need help?
Galatians 6:2 · James 2:15–17The film uses a séance and palm reading to address grief. Why does Scripture warn against occult practices, and what should replace them?
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · Philippians 4:6–7The Final Word
The Lost Husband has appealing performances, worthwhile themes, and a comfortable romantic-drama style. But its random elements and occult approach to healing make it better suited to discerning adults at home. Our answer is WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY.
