A tiny independent film is making a surprisingly big impact-and it's tackling one of America's deadliest crises head-on.
Just One More, the latest drama to land on Angel Studios, has quickly climbed into the platform's Top 10, proving that audiences are hungry for faith-driven stories that don't shy away from life's darkest struggles.
Created by Southern Illinois brothers Kyler Cook and Kaleb Cook, the film centers on Jess, a young woman trapped in the relentless cycle of opioid addiction. Her life begins to change after meeting Charles, a terminally ill man who spends his final days inviting strangers to stop and pray with him. Instead of offering an easy redemption story, the film honestly portrays relapse, withdrawal, broken relationships, and the difficult road toward healing.
The inspiration behind the film is deeply personal. Kyler Cook revealed that the story grew out of his family's experience helping his wife's cousin after she became addicted to prescription opioids following a devastating car accident. Even after moving into the Cook family's home, recovery was anything but straightforward, with painful relapses testing everyone's faith and perseverance.
"We wanted to tell that story because it's a story we knew well," Cook explained, adding that many faith-based films skip over the painful realities addicts and their families face every day. Instead, Just One More asks a difficult question many churches quietly wrestle with: What happens when someone you love keeps falling back into addiction?
The filmmakers were stunned by how widespread the crisis proved to be while scouting filming locations. Nearly every homeowner they met had been personally affected by opioid addiction-whether through the loss of a loved one, recovery within their own family, or personal experience. One pastor who allowed the crew to film at his home had tragically lost his daughter to an opioid overdose, giving the production an even deeper sense of purpose.
Produced on a modest budget of around $600,000, Just One More has outperformed expectations by competing alongside productions with far larger budgets and established filmmakers. The brothers say the response confirms that audiences are eager for authentic stories that explore faith through real-life pain rather than polished perfection.
As the film continues gaining momentum, Kyler and Kaleb Cook say they're committed to telling the kinds of stories many Christian filmmakers have been reluctant to touch-stories that spark honest conversations while pointing viewers toward hope, grace, and ultimately Christ
