Running head: WAR ROOM: MOVIE REVIEW 1
War Room: Movie Review
Anissa R. Chambers
Liberty University
Marriage and Family Counseling
PACO 615
Dr. Deborah Pinkston
September 28, 2019
Running head: WAR ROOM: MOVIE REVIEW 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………….3
II. Review……………………………………………………………………………3
III. Therapeutic Implication…………………………………………………………..4
IV. Personal/Professional Implication………………………………………………..5
V. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….6
VI. References……………………………………………………………………….7
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War Room: Movie Review
Introduction
The War Room directed by A. Kendrick in 2015 was an excellent movie that offers hope
to those who are going through martial problems. In marriage counseling one of the most
important aspects is the offering of hope. It is important that when a couple leaves the
counselor’s office, they have gained some form hope for the future. This movie could be a great
tool in helping to give hope and focus on what is important.
The Review
The movie the war room is about a family who looks great to the world yet is
dysfunctional behind closed doors. The husband and wife Tony and Elizabeth along with their
daughter Danielle are in the world of money and success being the idea of happiness with a
couple who are not remotely happy and a daughter who is caught in the middle. It is also about
an older woman named Ms. Clara who takes on the role of a Christian counselor and friend after
becoming a client of Elizabeth who is a real estate agent.
Ms. Clara sets the tone of the movie as a spiritual lady who was extremely
knowledgeable in spiritual warfare. She understood that it was important that “an individual had
to know one’s enemy, the right strategy, and resources to win any battle (Kendrick, 2015).” Ms.
Clara who is patient yet confident of who she is and what are goal is with Liz (Elizabeth). She
starts by introducing the relationship with Jesus through a cold and then hot cup of coffee. Ms.
Clara explains that her husband had been a strategist in the war room before dying at a young age
of a heart attack. She explains that the war room is where an army gathers before a war to plan
their strategy. Ms. Clara begins discipling Liz in the how to develop her own strategies and war
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room for her family. She explains that Satan’s plan is to destroy, however God’s plan is to give
life.
This movie takes this family through several devastating events that could have easily
ended this marriage and destroyed this family. Tony comes close to an affair, steals and is fired
from the company that he was working for and could have gone to jail. He disrespects his wife
and ignores his daughter. Elizabeth before learning about the war room is miserable, recognizes
they have problems but does not really know what to do but knows that something must change.
Elizabeth also learns that her daughter is not wanting to be around the house and would rather
stay at a friend’s house so as not to be caught up in the turmoil.
Elizabeth with the help of Ms. Clara takes a stand in prayer and begins to turn her heart
around and leads the family through a transformation that changes their lives forever. She finds
her courage in prayer to stand up the plans of the enemy and fight through the power and
strength of God. Deuteronomy 31:6“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at
them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you
(NASB).”
Therapeutic Implications
Worthington (2005) explains that a hope focused marriage is characterized by two main
thoughts. First is the strategy of implementing love, faith and work and secondly by increasing
motivation helping, make changes that are extremely noticed by the couple by showing progress
and through wait power or patience and perseverance. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance
of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (NASB).” This is what this family needed
as Tone and Elizabeth had arguments over finances. He became angry when asked to attend his
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daughters jump rope practice. Elizabeth showed how angry and upset she was with the situation
when talking with Ms. Clara. These are all symptoms of needing help in their marriage.
When watching the movie, Tony had already given up on his marriage all the while his
wife still had hope and was willing to fight for their marriage. She stood up even though she felt
like giving up, many tears in her closet calling out to God on behalf of her family. This is where
encouragement in patience and perseverance would come in for a couple in counseling. Jeremiah
29:13 says “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart (NASB).”
This is what Ms. Clara helped Elizabeth to do and God came through for her by rescuing her
entire family from certain tragedy. Romans 8:28-31 says, “And we know that God causes all
things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image
of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He
predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He
justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is
against us (NASB)?” In the end it took both of them implementing love, faith and work to see
this marriage come together and their family saved just as Worthington talks about in a hope
focused marriage.
Personal/Professional Implications
This movie is encouraging as the writer of this paper connected with Ms. Clara and the
purpose for which she was working. She understood discipleship and the Biblical strategy that
God has in place for all of his children. She understood something that is missed in today’s
churches found in Titus 2:3-5 which says, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their
behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they
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may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible,
pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will
not be dishonored (NASB).” This can be used in Christian counseling on a regular basis in
making sure that people have good support from friends and family but even more so from their
church family. Mentors are vital to the Christian walk. God had everything we needed written in
the manual He gave us for life.
One of the things that stood out to me is how the child felt like she was unloved, and it
was her fault at times. It was also beautiful when the mother and the father apologized and
pulled her back into the family. Children take on the “my fault” attuited easily and adults need to
be careful when having arguments or discussion in front of children. Even more important is the
simple stance of apologizing to the daughter and the how resilient she was with forgiveness and
willingness to jump back in with the family. Adults need to take the time to apologize to
children, teaching them that this is important for reconciliation to happen. This movie is full of
moments of forgiveness and reconciliation that was brought about because of it.
Conclusion
This movie has an excellent message and could be used in many situations in Christian
counseling. The importance of hope and working towards it with patience and perseverance.
The importance of repentance apologizes that leads to reconciliation. The need for mentors in
the faith and teachers for people to learn how-to walk-in relationship with Jesus. All of this can
be gleaned from this movie to make an impact in marriages and Christian counseling.
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References
Kendrick, A. (Director). (2015). War Room [Motion Picture].
Worthington, E. L. (2005). Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide To Brief Therapy
(Expanded pbk ed. ed.). Downers Grove, Illinois, USA: InterVarsity Press.
