The film that piqued the interest of millions of women, including myself, over the weekend was Barbie. A vibrant celebration of friendship, girlhood, and the iconic color pink. However, my editor had a different suggestion. Would I be willing to watch a thought-provoking movie about child sex trafficking, a topic that has sparked online outrage? Without hesitation, I agreed, as I am always ready to be a team player.
Upon arriving at the Tysons Corner AMC in McLean, Virginia, on Sunday, I was greeted by a lobby filled with individuals dressed in fuchsia body-con dresses, blond wigs, and thigh-high boots. However, none of these enthusiastic moviegoers were heading in the same direction as me. Rather, my theater housed a somber group of individuals who had chosen to attend a Sunday-afternoon screening, paying $15, of one of the most unsettling films released this year.
Sound of Freedom, released on the Fourth of July, follows the journey of Tim Ballard, a man who leaves his position at the Department of Homeland Security to personally rescue two Honduran children from a sex-trafficking ring in Colombia. Ballard is a real person, described by my colleague Kaitlyn Tiffany as having “extreme biceps, extreme blue eyes, and extreme bleach-blond hair.” He did establish an organization, Operation Underground Railroad, which conducts sting operations to liberate individuals from traffickers. However, Vice conducted an investigative report revealing that Ballard’s nonprofit may have embellished certain details regarding its international rescues and its involvement in domestic law enforcement.
Sound of Freedom had already garnered controversy long before its release. Completed in early 2018, the film was acquired by Fox, but when Disney acquired Fox, the film was immediately shelved. This immediately gave the movie a forbidden and subversive allure. Eventually, the distribution rights were sold to Angel Studios, a Utah-based company that also produced the Christian historical drama The Chosen. Since it began screening in theaters, some viewers have claimed instances of sabotage intended to prevent them from seeing the film. This week, Sound of Freedom surpassed $100 million in revenue. Former President Donald Trump even held a screening at his New Jersey golf club, boldly declaring it “the hottest movie anywhere in the world.” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also organized a screening for members of Congress.
Critics argue that the film amplifies the prevalence of child exploitation, aligning with QAnon conspiracy theories about a satanic ruling elite engaging in child molestation and blood rituals. However, supporters of the movie counter by saying that this is the film the Democratic elite does not want the public to see.
In reality, Sound of Freedom is none of these things. It is a decent film—not exceptional, but not terrible either. It does not make any references to a “deep state” or congressional sex rings. It is a straightforward, albeit slow-paced, action movie centered around a man on a noble mission. Unfortunately, it lacks character development and relies heavily on close-ups of people either crying or smoking cigars.
While the movie does not depict anything overly graphic, witnessing the dramatization of child abuse is still deeply distressing. It was an upsetting experience, made even more disconcerting by the discussions I had with fellow audience members afterward. Many appeared convinced that a significant number of Americans condone child trafficking. Sound of Freedom serves as yet another battleground in an endless culture war, encouraging individuals to believe the worst about each other.
In the movie, Tim Ballard is portrayed by Jim Caviezel, who gained recognition for his role as Jesus in 2004’s The Passion of the Christ and has dabbled in QAnon-related ideas. In 2021, Caviezel spoke at a right-wing conference in Oklahoma, where he propagated the absurd theory of “the adrenochrome-ing of children,” claiming that global elites use a chemical derived from abducted children to maintain their youthfulness. At one point in the film, Caviezel’s character is asked why he is so determined to rescue the children. He pauses, tears welling up in his eyes, and declares, “God’s children aren’t for sale.” The theater erupted in applause and cries of “Amen!”
The movie has garnered support from religious conservatives, Trump supporters, and even individuals with deep-seated paranoia—or at least that was the impression at the showing I attended. I specifically chose this theater because, based on my online research, many individuals with right-leaning political views had purchased tickets. One of the attendees, Kate Cox, a retiree from McLean, identified as a pro-life Catholic with concerns about the border. She believed that the film was about highlighting how people are taken and sold into sex slavery. Cox and her friends also expressed worries about fentanyl coming into the country from Mexico, prompting them to question why it was so difficult to construct a border wall. Another friend, Peggy, chimed in, expressing her concerns about escalating homelessness and deteriorating cities. Cox nodded in agreement and commented on the truth in some of the criticisms about Trump, but also highlighted that these issues were occurring before his presidency.
Unlike Barbie, which had extensive marketing and corporate partnerships, word-of-mouth seems to be the primary driver of attendance for Sound of Freedom. Most of the people I conversed with on Sunday had bought tickets based on recommendations from loved ones. Nicole Gutierrez, a Swiss native residing in D.C., told me that one of her friends urged her to see the movie, emphasizing that human trafficking is a far bigger issue than people realize, and both Hollywood and politicians are involved. She showed me a text from her friend containing the letters “C,” followed by an eye emoji, and then “A.” We speculated that it referred to the CIA. Gutierrez raised an eyebrow and uttered, “Everybody’s involved. The White House, of course.”
In a bonus scene after the credits, Caviezel, speaking in a hushed tone, encourages viewers to scan a QR code and purchase a ticket for someone who cannot afford it. He envisions Sound of Freedom as the 21st-century equivalent of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel that played a significant role in inspiring the abolitionist movement of the 19th century. As the lights came up, a woman named Cheska stood up in my row and disclosed that she was attending to talk about her missing 23-year-old daughter, hoping for a miracle and her safe return. She expressed her belief that the End Times were approaching and requested prayers for herself and others. A few individuals said “Amen,” and one woman even embraced Cheska.
As I exited the theater, I approached another group of friends to hear their thoughts. While they chose not to share their last names, they eagerly expressed how impactful they found the movie to be. George, a middle-aged man with dark hair, declared, “Men want to protect people. It’s humiliating to think that there are individuals out there capable of harming children.” He brought up Jason Aldean’s latest song, “Try That in a Small Town,” where the country artist promises retribution through vigilante justice. George enthusiastically endorsed the idea of real men stepping up to confront child abusers.
George’s bearded friend Steven interrupted, remarking with a wink, “You do realize you’re speaking with some of the few conservatives in this area, right?” He continued, “What surprises me is why the left despises this movie. I simply don’t understand it.” He stared at me expectantly, seemingly searching for an answer.
If the left feels repulsion toward this movie, it is for the same reasons why the right feels compelled to watch it. Our political leaders, social circles, and chosen media outlets have shaped our opinions within our respective ideological echo chambers. We are constantly told how to feel about this film, as well as countless other topics such as Bud Light, gas stoves, school libraries, Target’s Pride section, Elon Musk’s tweets, Luke Combs’ “Fast Car,” the entire Walt Disney Company, and even Lizzo.
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