“Sound of Freedom” is a movie that places a powerful message about child sex trafficking above its storytelling. Its primary goal is to ignite a deeper concern for the horrors associated with this issue. The film achieves this by presenting unsettling sequences of children in danger, manipulated by sinister adults, and making their faces unforgettable. At the center of the narrative is Tim Ballard, an American man whose unwavering compassion drives him to leave his job at Homeland Security just months before earning a pension. He ventures to Colombia undercover to rescue children. Jim Caviezel delivers a poignant and deeply earnest performance, reminiscent of his portrayal of Jesus Christ in “The Passion of the Christ.”
Although the story is based on true events, it struggles to come to life due to its heavy-handed approach. Director Alejandro Monteverde meets the bare minimum expectations for a message-driven film but falls short of realizing its ambitious cinematic potential. Stripped of its self-importance, “Sound of Freedom” has the potential to be a visually striking horror film with an art-house sensibility. Unfortunately, its preoccupation with significance dampens its ability to transcend mere atmosphere and become a truly captivating movie.
On its own, “Sound of Freedom” is a solemn and slow-paced bore, lacking a particularly bold narrative stance. Caring for the safety of children is a cause that resonates effortlessly with any decent human being. Previous films like “Gone Baby Gone” and “Taken” have effectively capitalized on this tension, drawing the audience in when children are stolen and placed in peril. However, the co-writers, Monteverde and Rod Barr, fail to flesh out ideas or characters, leaving Tim Ballard’s painstaking search for two specific children (Miguel, played by Lucás Ávila, and Rocío, played by Cristal Aparicio) lacking intensity. The framing of the film as a “true story” adds a touch of edge initially, but its impact diminishes over time. Visit o2tv series for more!
