*Warning: This review contains spoiler alerts.
The film Break Every Chain tells the true story of Jonathan Hickory, a young man filled with anger and unresolved pain stemming from the loss of his father while he was still a child.
We see an adult Jonathan graduate from the Police Academy and marry Stacy, the love of his life. His wife is a strong believer, while he has turned away from God. On the surface he seems to have built a dream life, but his childhood grief coupled with the harsh realities and tragic losses he faces daily as a police officer prove to be more than he can handle.
He turns to alcohol to numb the pain, which eventually consumes and begins to destroy his life. Adding fuel to the fire is the immense heartache that he and Stacy experience surrounding the miscarriage of their second child.
In the midst of the chaos, Jonathan has been hemmed in by a praying wife and a Christian training officer to give him every indication that God is alive and present in his life, but he is too lost to see it.
In desperation, Jonathan continues to spiral downward even to the point of suicidal thoughts until, after reaching rock bottom, he seeks counsel from a local pastor, whom God uses to turn his heart to Jesus. One painful, but rewarding step at a time, Jonathan and Stacy’s wounds begin to heal, and the chasm in their marriage and family is bridged through God’s amazing grace.
Break Every Chain is an excellent portrayal of the destruction that occurs when we self-medicate instead of leaning on Jesus, which is a reminder that we all need. I encourage you to add it to your movie watch list.
