As someone who has sat through over a dozen Christian films, some of which are inspiring and others less so, I did not approach The Forge expecting to be reduced to tears. I expected to be hopeful, perhaps get to see a neat redemption arc or stirring prayer moment. But what I received was something much more authentic, a film that doesn't just speak about discipleship but makes you experience the fire. Directed by Alex Kendrick and featuring the familiar Kendrick Brothers cast, The Forge is the story of Isaiah Wright, delivered with surprising depth by newcomer Aspen Kennedy. He is a directionless young man with no job, no patience, and no relationship with his dad or his God. What begins as a second chance narrative gradually becomes a meaningful exploration of what it is to really grow up in Christ.
It's not doing, or mimicking, but about being slowly and agonizingly remade. The title of the film, The Forge, is telling. This is not going to be a tale of instant conversion; it's about forging iron, and that will never be a gentle thing.
As someone who has sat through over a dozen Christian films, some of which are inspiring and others less so, I did not approach The Forge expecting to be reduced to tears. I expected to be hopeful, perhaps get to see a neat redemption arc or stirring prayer moment. But what I received was something much more authentic, a film that doesn't just speak about discipleship but makes you experience the fire. Directed by Alex Kendrick and featuring the familiar Kendrick Brothers cast, The Forge is the story of Isaiah Wright, delivered with surprising depth by newcomer Aspen Kennedy. He is a directionless young man with no job, no patience, and no relationship with his dad or his God. What begins as a second chance narrative gradually becomes a meaningful exploration of what it is to really grow up in Christ. It's not doing, or mimicking, but about being slowly and agonizingly remade. The title of the film, The Forge, is telling. This is not going to be a tale of instant conversion; it's about forging iron, and that will never be a gentle thing.
It's not doing, or mimicking, but about being slowly and agonizingly remade. The title of the film, The Forge, is telling. This is not going to be a tale of instant conversion; it's about forging iron, and that will never be a gentle thing.
Discipleship, Not Drama
At its fundamental level, The Forge is about discipleship, neither the churchy kind, but the kind that changes. It's the kind that deconstructs you so you can be rebuilt. It calls you out, walks with you, and doesn't allow you to remain the same. The film does not shy away from the cost.
It starts with Isaiah stuck, relationally, spiritually, and emotionally. When he meets a local mentor through a church program, we don't immediately connect the dots. What we do get is an awkward, hesitant, and authentic conversation. That authenticity is what makes their relationship so captivating. It is the practical anchor of the movie, with brutal discussions, painful confessions, and a relentless move toward truth. The Proverbs 27:17 verse, "As iron sharpens iron…" is quoted, but it's lived more. The movie accurately depicts the sharpening process on the screen without rushing. It's a slow walk of faith, faith that is forged.
Isaiah's change is the heart of the movie. He comes in as a self-assured, emotionally closed-off man who's suspicious of anything having to do with the church. But he's not made a villain, but rather a man shaped by pain, by struggle with his dad, and by feeling overlooked. His final surrender to God isn't a grand conversion at an altar; it's a series of little deaths, a tearing down to be rebuilt. Edward Graham is the quiet strength mentor who rejects showy spectacle. He is not preachy; he is a seasoned man who will guide people through their tribulations. Their conversations are not between cinematic or smooth; they are stumbling, raw, and occasionally tense. This is precisely how discipleship should be. The secondary characters, like Isaiah's estranged father, his agnostic girlfriend, and the men in his discipleship group, provide depth. They all bring their own background, adding to the reminder that genuine transformation impacts every area of life. If you're in the mood for instant action or surprise plot twists, that's not this kind of movie.
The Forge progresses like a real discipleship process, slow, calculated, and sometimes painfully so. And yet there is depth in the silence. The story makes you wait and just sit with the tension. There is a theme of blacksmithing and flame, strong enough to cause you to understand that Isaiah is changing. It is not through chance, but through sacrifice. One of the strongest things in the film is Isaiah's video diary. These are stark, sometimes raging, and often baffled, like our psalms today, "God, where Are You in this?" and "Am I changing or pretending?" Those are better memorised than any clip from a sermon could hope to be. The movie wisely never ties everything up in a bow. Some of the wounds remain open, and some of the prayers go unanswered. Discipleship is not about arriving somewhere; it is about obeying, even when the fire continues to burn.
The Forge stands out especially by speaking to the present. It addresses a generation of men with absent fathers, broken men, and a culture that identifies manhood with toughness or remoteness. Instead of adding to the noise, it gives a gentle but challenging message. Be known. Be sharpened. For young Christian men, particularly for those who seek more than shallow behaviour control, this movie is a must. It speaks against toxic ideals without screaming. It displays servant leadership unapologetically and acknowledges that this process is far from smooth. There's a moment when Isaiah confesses his exhaustion from trying to "look Christian" with no actual change. That hit close to home. Haven't we all done it? Pretending spiritual health, dancing around the flames, hoping for change without taking the initiative?
Final Thoughts: This One Stays With You
I've seen a lot of Christian movies that just set out to make you cry, applaud, or quote the Bible when you leave. But The Forge is not like that. It doesn't leave you with a fleeting high spiritually; it poses a question. Who is sharpening you? And who are you sharpening back? It's not flashy, and it doesn't always feel good, but it is reliable. And better yet, it is authentic. For the weary believer, the sceptical church-goer, and the young man who has yet to experience true discipleship, this film is a gentle challenge. It calls you back to the long, slow process of becoming like Jesus. In its quietness, The Forge reveals its true strength.