It’s about as cringe as it sounds. For your viewing….experience…there is a film called “The Reconciler.” Essentially the Christian version of “Saw,” its a religious take on the horror movie that kidnaps people and forces them to play a game that usually results in someone’s death. But this film seems to need victims to hug instead. Apparently repairing relationships for God’s love is the m.o. here.
A serial kidnapper known as The Reconciler abducts people estranged from one another in an attempt to make them heal their broken bonds. So in essence, the Jigsaw-esque character wants to spread…love? Does that really count as horror? There would also appear to be this overarching plot that the world is falling into darkness. Probably from a lack of faith. Let’s be real, this is a Christian movie, after all.
The trailer feels like a College Humor bit. It’s hard to watch knowing it’s meant to be serious, honestly. And that’s just two minutes. We can’t really think about an hour and a half of this. Directed by Shawn Justice and released in 2015, it was wrestler Roddy Piper‘s last role. It also features Bill Ritchie, Jeremy Steel, Jourdan Steel, Michaelle Roberts, and Xander Steel.
We’re not even sure what this film is classified as. How do you make a thriller out of kidnapping people to make them forgive and reconcile with one another? How do you build tension knowing the only stakes is whether or not relationships are repaired? Sounds a bit more like a romcom wrapped in a horror jacket. Nice try! “The Reconciler” is available to stream on Tubi and YouTube if you’re really curious.
But thankfully, Jigsaw is always happy to see us, as another “Saw” film is on the way.
