Jessica Chastain's country music thriller Heartland is rated R, so faith-minded families may want to know what to expect before pressing play on Netflix.
The film began streaming worldwide on Friday, Nov. 13. Written and directed by Shana Feste, it follows Misty Jones, a former country superstar who has stayed out of the spotlight for 20 years. Misty returns to Nashville to search for her missing niece, Charlie.
Real-life country singer-songwriter Carter Faith plays Charlie. The cast also includes John Hawkes, Garrett Hedlund and Grammy winner Jennifer Nettles. Music is central to the story, and Chastain performs her own songs.
FlixPatrol listed Heartland at No. 10 on Netflix's worldwide top 10 movies chart on Nov. 14. Reviews are mixed. One review calls Chastain's performance electric, while another says the film loses its way after a predictable halfway twist.
On content, Misty is a disgraced country legend who has retreated into an alcohol-soaked existence, and the film explores the seedy side of Music City. Those themes, along with the R rating, make it a film for adults, so parents may want to preview it first.
Fans wondering about a country album may be disappointed. Despite her growing country music résumé, Chastain has no plans to record an album.
For viewers of faith, Heartland is a reminder to choose carefully what we watch and to talk about it together.
