Blown away by the inspirational film The Healer, sometimes it becomes an easy task to talk about people helping other people. This may be a fictional film, but the messages are clear. Those that have faith may not believe in the method the filmmakers use, but should have comfort that miracles can happen in mysterious ways. Make sure you bring some tissues along, as the heartfelt story should yank a few tears.
Entrepreneur Alec Bailey (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) has a good thing going for him. He has an electrical engineering degree and has put it to task fixing anything that plugs into the wall. He calls his shop “The Healer” and he brings in a fast buck making house calls. But, he does have a few bad habits, one being gambling. Not having much luck however, he finds himself in debt to the tune of $85 thousand dollars he borrowed from the bank against his store.
One day he receives a message from his bank that he must keep a meeting with the manager. There the manager tells him that he knows someone who will eradicate his debt and keep him from losing his business. He takes the opportunity and meets with Raymond Heacock (Jonathan Pryce) who tells him he’s his estranged uncle on his mother’s side of the family. His offer, he will pay him handsomely if he goes to Nova Scotia, Canada for one year and keep up the family’ vacant house.
When he gets there the villagers, including Veterinarian Cecilia (Camilla Luddington), start acting strangely calling him the healer they are expecting. When “medical miracles” start happening, he denies he having to anything to make them occur. So begins a tale of extraordinary circumstances that may do one of two things, set him on the road to a decent life, or lead him on the path of despair. Director Paco Arango sets up a very good moving tale of faith and reality using his fine actors to tell his story. He throws caution to the wind with his inconceivable comedy and makes it feel like reality. Much like the film “Oh, God!” he works magic showing that a supreme being may have a hand in the lives of people on Earth.
The acting in the film is very professional and especially the performance by Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Alec the guy who finds himself in a surreal world unknowingly and gets put to the test. He keeps his Alec doubting himself for the things that are happening around him. When he meets Abigail (Kaitlyn Bernard), a teenager that has cancer, he’s challenged beyond the other possibly coincidental healing incidents that have come about before her.
As Cecilia, the local veterinarian who see changes in the animals since Alec arrived, Camilla Luddington does a good job of supporting Jackson-Cohen’s role. She has some of the answers to Alec’s dilemma, but doesn’t know it. Putting herself at risk of falling in love she pulls off a tactic that begins a twist to the plot.
But, the film goes to Kaitlyn Bernard who plays the cancer victim that is on the clock. She keeps her Abagail inquisitive and meddling in the whole situation of her coming to the town to have Alec cure her. But, it’s the best developing role of the film and it makes the movie work as the inspiring selfless acts play out.
“The Healer” is the first movie ever to donate 100% of its net proceeds to charity. In the US, all net proceeds from sales and viewings will benefit SeriousFun Children’s Network (https://www.seriousfunnetwork.org/), a global network of 30 camps and programs, founded by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, which provides life-changing experiences to children living with serious illnesses and their families, totally free of charge. Globally, ‘The Healer’ has already raised more than $4.5M for children with cancer, and other serious illnesses, and has been a #1 hit in multiple countries including Spain, Mexico, Central America and Colombia.
The healer has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains some suggestive material, think PG. It’s a wonderful film for the whole family and I recommend it highly.
FINAL ANALYSIS: It’s good to see an inspiring film in the midst of all the fall horror movies. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jonathan Pryce, Camilla Luddington, Jorge Garcia, Batman The Dog, Adrian G. Griffiths, Kaitlyn Bernard, Suresh John
Directed and written by: Paco Arango
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Inspirational
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains suggestive material
Running Time: 1 hr. 52 min.
Opening Date: September 28, 2018
Distributed by: Rogers & Cohen
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
