MOVIE REVIEW

Let’s talk about Elijah Peel.

This movie opens with Elijah Peel, played by Robert Malcolm Cumming, a British rock star whose life has been consumed by drugs, alcohol, women, and the chaos that comes with fame. His manager, Rock Diamond, played by Kevin Sorbo, is truly his voice of reason, trying to keep Elijah from completely losing control. Elijah eventually suffers a breakdown and a heart attack, and from there, the story takes off.

Elijah wakes up in a Memphis, Tennessee, hospital, where he meets Jessica Sanchez, played by Evelyn Grace Kite. Jessica is an eight-year-old girl who knows a surprising amount about Elijah. She has been watching Inside Edition, so she knows all about his life as a rock star, including the women, the drugs, and the alcohol. Elijah is jokingly defensive about it, but Jessica is not there to judge him.

Instead, she asks him why he does not want to live. Then she asks him, “Do you know Jesus?”

And that is where this movie takes a turn.

I could say more, but Elijah Peel is so much more than what you expect when it begins. It is a story about life in the fast lane. It is a story about perspective. More importantly, it is about someone who is fighting to live while someone else is arguably trying to die.

The two form an unlikely bond within the hospital, and that relationship becomes the heart of the story.

Jessica’s mother, Maria Sanchez, is played by April Billingsley. We are also introduced to Hattie, played by Princess Elmore, along with other characters who come into Elijah’s life and help him begin to see the error of his ways.

Hattie was a standout character in Elijah Peel’s story. She was funny, godly, and unafraid to challenge Elijah’s spirituality. One of the best scenes in the film was when Hattie and Elijah took a walk in the park. Hattie made him reflect on the man he was becoming, and it was a powerful scene.

There is also a nurse who is an absolute hoot.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this film is how well acted it was. Every moment felt believable. The movie makes it very clear how the limelight can destroy a person, especially when fame, drugs, and alcohol become the center of someone’s life.

I also loved the imagery. The film gives us a glimpse into what someone’s mind can look like when it has been corrupted by drugs and alcohol, while also showing the freedom and clarity that can come when someone turns toward God.

The Memphis setting is a fitting backdrop for this story, especially because music is such an important part of Elijah’s world. Memphis has such a rich musical history, and you can feel that influence throughout the film.

The story is loosely inspired by the personal journey of Kevin D. Sepe, who wrote and produced the film and composed its music. Sepe drew from his own experiences with addiction, recovery, and finding faith when developing Elijah’s story. He also wrote the music and songs for the film, making the soundtrack an important part of the storytelling.

The film also has the involvement of Willie and Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, who served as executive producers.

I think the search for Christ is very evident throughout this movie. It opens your eyes to how each one of us can be a witness, even in our deepest struggles. The devil will throw things at you when you are fighting to get your life right, but without Christ, you will never reach the freedom you are searching for.

Overall, this film was brilliant. It was fun, serious, and very thought-provoking. The music was well done, the lyrics were artistically inclined, and the heart of the film was very much alive.

Really, so far this year, I would say Elijah Peel is going to be one of the best-kept secrets if y’all don’t go see it.

BJ