“The Pastor” is not your typical faith-based film, as it deals with gang violence and a former gang leader who becomes a pastor after his release from prison. It features a few bloody scenes, including some of a man having his tattoos removed, as well as a lot of blood on a man’s hands following a fight.
The pastor is from Brooklyn, and after surviving a knife attack in prison, he eventually is freed after eight years and becomes the pastor of a church that is targeted by a gang. The church is vandalized, and a boy is even murdered. When the pastor’s own child and his estranged wife are kidnapped, he struggles with a battle to maintain his Christian faith or to fight back against the man responsible.
This is a gritty film with much of the action involving the streets or gang members and their threats. It is a bit grim but offers hope with a happy ending. We are awarding it our “Faith-Based” Seal (meaning there is some objectionable content in it), but the faith of the pastor shines through the film.