Man of God
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Director: James Mangold
Writers: Sammy-Jo Ellis & John Malone
Cast: Josh Brolin, Robert Aramayo, Michael Shannon, Melissa George, Jon Voight, Billy Howle, Emma Myers, Tim Blake Nelson
Plot: A big media hullabaloo surrounds a West Texas prison, surrounding the upcoming execution of convicted serial killer, Christopher Charles (Michael Shannon). He has accepted his fate and declines a final meal, instead he asks to meet with a Man of God instead. The warden asks Christopher what denomination he requests, Charles chuckles saying he has no interest in religion, he just wants to meet with one. There is only one man of God the warden is able to get a hold of on such a short notice. Local Baptist pastor, John Simonette (Josh Brolin).
John looks hesitant as he approaches Christopher’s cell. The two of them meet privately in Christopher’s cell. John takes a seat as Christopher tries to hide a smile from him. John tries to get to talking about the bible and asking what Christopher wanted to tell him. Christopher tells him he doesn’t care for any religious bullshit, he just wants to talk. He continues telling John he did not act alone in the murders. John looks to the door but can see no-one. In the cell, the atmosphere is oppressive, made worse by Christopher's unsettling demeanor. Christopher tells John that he wants to confess that he committed the murders with his younger brother Cole. Christopher says that he imagines Cole is going by a different name in a different town by now, but he believes that Cole is going to continue to kill on his own. Christopher's tone shifts to one of remorse. Christopher feels bad about leading his little brother down such a path, but he decided to take all the blame on previous murders and hope his brother will find some reason or higher power to stop. The warden and guards come for Christopher and lead him to his execution by electric chair. He waves to John as he walks by. John watches from the gallery as the volts of electricity violently take Christopher's life.
John approaches Warden Willis McKerchar (Jon Voight) and tells him about Christopher’s confession, telling him about Cole. Warden laughs it off saying Christopher’s brother died 10 years ago, there is no-one out there continuing his killing. John walks away in thought.
John lays in bed that night, unable to sleep, next to his sleeping wife. He gets up and decides to pray. As he prays, he notices that the clocks have stopped in his house. A sign from God? John decides to take it into his own hands, he believes Christopher was telling the truth.
John begins researching Christopher Charles' murders at the library, even bringing articles home. Along the way he makes some gruesome discoveries about the murders. His wife, Birdy (Melissa George), is concerned by this as John usually only reads the Bible or the sports section of the local newspaper.
Birdy is in the kitchen preparing a dinner for the two of them and her father, McKerchar. John sits and continues to read through some articles about Christopher and the supposed death of his two brothers in a house fire. McKerchar knocks at the door, Birdy goes to answer not before telling John to put the articles away. Willis is greeted with a hug from Birdy and a handshake from John. The three of them sit down for a pleasant meal, not before praying. Not much small talk takes place. Along the line Birdy let’s slip John’s research into Christopher Charles. Willis looks to his son in law, asking why on Earth would he be doing that, he should not get caught up in things like that. John asks Willis if he is truly sure that Christopher acted alone in his crimes. After all, his brothers bodies were never named, merely that two bodies were found and could not be recognized in the home. Willis dismisses the questions with a chuckle, insisting the state dealt with a guilty man and that's all that matters. Willis stands and thanks Birdy for the dinner before walking out the door. She looks to John shaking her head, saying he should never have questioned her father’s judgement. He has been doing this for years. John tells her he knows and he is sorry.
John prays after dinner, he questions whether he should stop on this goose chase or whether his gut is right. Birdy turns the radio on where he hears the weather forecast. It is raining most heavily in the city of Alpine, to John’s shock, Christopher’s hometown. He thanks the father, and packs a small bag, to the behest of Birdy, he tells her he has been called out to a church near Alpine tomorrow. He places a kiss on her lips before the two head to bed.
The next morning John drives on in toward Alpine. He stops along the way at a gas station, just on the outskirt of town. He waits inside for the cashier to pay for some gas. The cashier, Coen (Billy Howle), walks back into the store from the public toilet, he holds a shovel, with blood on the tip of it. John starts to feel slightly uncomfortable. Coen apologizes to John for keeping him waiting, there was a snake in the bathroom. John tells him that is no problem. The two strike up a little small talk with John asking why its so quiet. Coen tells him this is the quietest gas place in and around town, he thinks its got something to do with the young girl that was brutally killed here a few months back. John tells him that is terrible news. Coen stares into the distance, “yeah it was”. He then snaps back telling John, he best be going now, he sure seems like a busy man. John thanks him for the fuel.
John drives away from the gas station, and toward the town. He takes a look around, places that he had read up on. The house that Christopher’s brothers died in is one place he wants to see. It is about to go under renovation, but nothing has been done to it since the fire. He can’t find anything in town, so leaves at the end of the day. As he drives home he sees Coen walking to the bin with the shovel and a bag – understandably the snake in it. Coen looks up and sees him driving past, waving with a smile.
John stands before his church and delivers a powerful sermon. He largely talks about the toll of a guilty conscious – one he is sure many in the congregation have felt. He adds that a guilty conscious does not just ascertain to those that are the guilty party – but those that have a part to play in the solving of a mystery. One that may save and touch more than what had originally met the eye.
John once more drives into Alpine. As he is driving he notices, Coen standing outside the dilapidated Charles home, staring into the house. John parks his car and walks toward Coen. As he walks toward him he bumps into a young man (Robert Aramayo), who excuses himself. John helps the young man pick up a few flyers for the nearby church. John asks the young man if he's a man of faith. The man replies with a smile and shakes John's hand. He introduces himself as Sam, a local pastor. Sam then continues in telling John that he had seen him here the day before. He wonders what a man like John is doing in Alpine. John just tells him he is looking for something. Sam laughs saying there isn’t much to look for here, before bidding John farewell. John then looks toward the Charles’ house, seeing Coen has disappeared.
John returns home as he came up empty in Alpine. Birdy waits up for him and questions all these gasoline bills popping up on the bank statements. John tells Birdy that he has been helping a new upstart church out in Alpine, one run by a young man by the name of Sam. Birdy believes her husband, but just wishes he would spend some time at home with her. John tells her that once this church is set up and ready to go, he will be home a lot more.
John is in Alpine, he approaches the entry to the church, upon walking inside he looks for Sam, who is nowhere to be seen. After kneeling and praying, John leaves the church. As he is about to get into the car he is approached by a young woman, Daisy Rogers (Emma Myers). She tells John that she has seen him in Alpine quite a lot lately and asks why? He tells her that he just likes what he sees. She laughs, no one says that about Alpine – so why is he really here. He tells her that he is looking for a relative that he has not seen in a very long time. He tells her his name is Cole – his nephew. She tells him there was only one Cole here and he died in a house fire years ago. She says she can show him the house.
The two of them arrive at the Charles’ burnt-down house. Once more, Coen is standing out the front. Before Daisy can leave John asks her if she knows much about Coen. She begins listing off things that she knows about him; no family, no friends that she knows of, seems kind, nice eyes. She asks why, John says that he thought he knew him, but might not be the right person. He thanks Daisy. Daisy tells him that if he is ever in town again, to keep an eye out for her. He was fun to talk to.
Arriving home John walks into an intervention of sorts with Birdy and Warden McKerchar. McKerchar tries to get John to stop with this madness, Birdy has told him about the church in Alpine, but McKerchar knows what he is really doing. He is trying to find Christopher’s dead brother. John looks to Birdy as if to say why she told her father. She wanted to do what is right by him, she feels he is becoming obsessed over nothing, it has nothing to do with him. He grabs her by the hands, telling her it was a sign from god that he follow this and nothing more. McKerchar has John promise he will stop looking into it. Lying through his teeth John promises.
John stands before his congregation once more delivering another powerful sermon. Throughout his sermon he speaks on forgiveness. He repeatedly speaks about forgiveness beginning with a decision – one to let go of the desire for revenge. We see as he speaks his thoughts are running wild, thinking about Alpine. He continues his sermon telling those in his congregation to release the grip of anger and trust God with their pain. He changes his sermon’s direction now speaking on the pursuit of truth. Stating that in a world where voices are many, and confusion often reigns, seeking truth in the journey of life requires dedication. As he continues on his speech he feels something tick over in his head, a sign from God, a conviction that his search for truth about Cole Charles is far from over.
John arrives back in Alpine, meeting with Sam at his church. The two shake hands once more with Sam inviting him into “the house of God”. The two of them converse in various ways about the running of a good sermon, with a few of the things Sam says, John disagreeing with. Sam asks John if he would be so kind to observe Sam’s sermon and give some feedback. John says he would be more than happy too.
As John observes the sermon, he can’t help but notice the young man’s charisma, and the large, attentive congregation that he engages. He wonders how it is someone so young can encapsulate so many in the name of God. Impressed is an understatement. Jealous? Maybe. John notices Daisy as they are leaving the church and walks with her. The two discussing the recent murder of the young girl in town. John has his foot halfway in his car but asks Daisy if the two could meet to talk more about the girl they day after? Daisy says sure thing, giving him a location for the meet.
On his way home from Alpine, John stops in at the gas station, but Coen is not there. The new cashier tells John that Coen didn’t come into work today, the cashier furious at not being told. John feels uneasy about the no-show of Coen.
Pulling into his driveway, he is immediately met by McKerchar, who questions him on his persistence in going to Alpine for the church. John really does not want to hear it from his father-in-law right now. John tries to walk past McKerchar with McKerchar grabbing his wrist. John turns around and demands McKerchar take his hands off him. This heightens the tension with McKerchar now telling him that Birdy is worried sick, Birdy is worried that John is travelling to Alpine to get further from her, or worse yet he is cheating. John lets out a slight scoff at the word cheating, stating Birdy knows he is not that man, he would not commit such a sin. McKerchar just wants to know why he continues to pursue whatever is in Alpine. John says he is just pursuing the word of God before walking into his home.
John’s return to Alpine had him shocked from the moment he drives back into town, with John seeing Coen walking by. John immediately pulls the car over and walks over to Coen, under the guise of caring for his wellbeing, however really an act of suspicion. He asks Coen if everything is ok, and he missed him at the gas station the day prior. Coen sort of backs away but answers the question, he just didn’t want to be too close. Coen tells John that he went fishing on a retreat with his friends, from church, even offering John one of the fish he caught. He adds that he forgot to tell the gas station the days he was gone and that he was supposed to work. This revelation shocks John’s confidence in his suspicions. John apologizes to Coen for stopping him before moving onto find Daisy.
John continues on his way to meet with Daisy. As he drives he is pulled over by the small town sheriff, Paul Snowling (Tim Blake Nelson). Sherriff Snowling approaches John’s car and asks him to roll the car window down. Sherriff Snowling asks John what for his license and registration. Snowling asks John what has continued to bring him into Alpine, and, asks what his interests with Miss Daisy Rogers is. John states that he is in town as a pastor to give their young Pastor Sam some feedback. He adds that Ms Rogers has been helping him get his bearings while he is in the area nothing more. Snowling continues that some residents of the community have said that John being around has caused them great concerning with people seeing him out the front of the old Charles’ home a few days prior. John states that he saw a burnt down house and stopped to take a look, nothing more. Snowling hands the license and registration back, telling John that he will keep an eye out.
Daisy is waiting at the bus stop where she and John and were to meet, all of a sudden a black car drives passed her, stopping for a split second. A man gets out of the car and hits Daisy across the face (we do not see the man). The man drags Daisy into the car and drives off, as quick as he drove in.
John arrives at the bus stop. He searches all around, standing in the same spot and swinging his head around frantically searching for Daisy. He runs around searching the area, hoping to find any clues. Nothing. He grabs a passerby sending them into chaos too. The whole community seems to go into chaos. Feeling a deep sense of urgency, John sets out to find Daisy himself.
Daisy, tied to a chair, wakes up. Dazed, she looks around the room, finding nothing except for a table with various devices on it and one chair. The door opens, Daisy’s face turns from panic to fear and anger. Walking inside the room, with rope in hand is Pastor Sam. Sam grins, savoring the terror in her eyes. He proclaims that this is his favorite part of what he does - observing the terror and emotions Daisy is displaying. She tries to earn sympathy by describing everything she is yet to do in her life, everything she wants to do. Sam asks her if she really thinks that will work, he’s heard everything before. He then stops himself, realizing he is yet to introduce himself to his latest victim. He extends his hand, Cole Charles is the name. Daisy’s face drops even more but she stays strong, still trying to manipulate her way free. Cole tells her to shut the fuck up and grabs her by her face, holding it back, kissing her, as she tries to fight away. Cole then explains that usually his brother would be here to hold him back, but big he isn’t here anymore, “I can do whatever the fuck I want!” Cole grabs a knife and places it onto Daisy’s leg, pushing deeper and deeper, Daisy’s screams deafening.
John embarks on a desperate search around town for Daisy, praying and seeking signs from God. After searching all day, John finally reaches a decrepit shed on the outskirts of town as the sun is rapidly setting. Inside, John finds a makeshift altar with burned candles, scraps of bloody fabric, and what appears to be a diary. Flipping through the pages, he recognizes the handwriting from the church flyers handed out by Pastor Sam.
John bashes down the door of the pastor's house, Cole is nowhere to be seen. John’s face turns to anguish as he sees a murdered Daisy, blood all over her body. As tears well up, John hears a noise from the next room, he storms in there, seeing Sam with blood all over him. “Sam” turns around and with a smile on his face tells John that the grace of God will shine on him again. Sam grabs a blade and presses it to his own neck, but John lunges, knocking him to the floor. The knife clatters away. John knows now that this man is no pastor, no man of God, this is none other than Cole Charles. John punches Cole repeatedly, his knuckles bloodied, as he wrestles with the weight of his fury and his faith. John prays while his hands are around Cole’s throat, whether he should get revenge for the murder of Daisy, or whether he should call the police. John eventually stops, Cole unconscious. John calls the police, feeling a deep conflict with man’s desires and guidance from God.
The community is relieved that both Charles brothers have been taken down by law. John, is left to grapple with the outcome of the arrest and his own sense of failure, being the man to put Daisy in that situation.
John arrives home, Birdy immediately hugging him apologizing, over and over for not believing him. McKerchar also stands opposite him, telling John he should have believed him. John doesn’t want to hear it. He walks straight past the both of them, instead, praying on it.
Months pass, and Cole is now on death row much like his brother was before him. Cole is stunned when he is visited for his last rites by none other than John, who takes a seat across from him. Cole expresses surprise. John simply comments that Cole asked for a man of God, so he came. Cole tries to ask John to forgive him for his sins, expressing remorse. John, firm in his faith and conviction, refuses to forgive Cole, stating that some actions are beyond human forgiveness. Cole asks John to pray for him. John declines to pray for Cole and closes his Bible, standing to leave. John leans in close, telling Cole that his redemption is between himself and God now, so he needs to pray for himself. He turns and walks out, leaving Cole in stunned silence.
John leaves the prison. Sun breaks through the clouds, bathing him in golden light. He lifts his face toward the sky. His should visibly relax as a heavy burden has been lifted. He whispers a prayer, thanking God for the strength to endure. He drives away from the prison, toward home.
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