Film report: ‘The War Within’

The War Within took home a slew of awards at the Christian Worldview Film Festival and was released on August 19. Samaritan Ministries member Brett Varvel co-wrote and directed the movie with his father, Gary, and they each play characters as well.

The film won the Audience Choice grand prize, plus Best Trailer and Best Feature Film. But Brett and Gary say they are most honored by a fourth award—Best Gospel Presentation.

Brett plays the main character, Michael Sinclair, who faces trials that threaten to destroy his marriage, family, and career. A war wages within his soul, personified by six characters: Mind, Memory, Emotion, Will, Conscience, and Heart.

The inspiration comes from the first verse in James 4: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” The War Within examines this war that all Christians are engaged in, but few know how to fight. It causes us to ask the hard questions of life, yet it also reveals the power of God that grants us the victory,” Brett says.

The battle inside Michael has a profound effect on his relationship with his wife and causes him to doubt his faith in God. But in the midst of this spiritual test, he discovers that victory is found in submitting to Christ. As viewers follow the quest for answers inside of Michael, they may gain insight into their own war within.

As I watched The War Within I found it easy to identify with Michael. A battle can rage within me when dealing with the normal stresses in life—conflicts with my wife or co-workers, raising kids, any kind of significant decision that has to be made.

Seeing that inner turmoil dramatized reminded me that it is going on inside of everyone, so we ought to be more gracious with one another. Our conflicts with each other would probably be better resolved if we made more deliberate efforts both to share our war within and to understand the inner battle others are fighting.

The War Within was born out of Brett’s vision in 2007 to partner with his church, Bethesda Baptist in Brownsburg, Indiana, to produce an evangelistic film. Their first project, The Board, produced on the campus of the church, was a precursor to The War Within. As God blessed that effort, House of Grace Films was formed to produce additional Biblically based films to further the Great Commission.

The Varvels are hoping pastors and Christian leaders will show the film to church congregations, and use the event as an outreach. They are offering very reasonable licensing pricing. The film can be shown to up to 100 viewers for $100. Those who want to sponsor a showing of the film can screen it first by making a request on the website.

Brett says, “It’s the Gospel that changes people’s lives. Therefore, we want to get this film in every church, not just domestically, but across the globe.”

The War Within does take on some challenging subject matter—conflict in a marriage and the loss of a child—and features powerful effects during the sequences inside of Michael. Parents will want to screen the film to evaluate whether young children should watch it.