Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. I’m unaware if the film has audio description or not.

Faith based cinema has come a long way. I distinctly remember back when I was in high school, and the Omega Code was this sensation. We were told just how amazing it was, and it even spawned a sequel, Meggido. I’ve seen both. Casper Van Dien could only act for people who didn’t know any better. Now, actors sign up for faith based films on a regular basis. Michael Chiklis just did The Senior for Angel studios, Zachary Levi headlined The Unbreakable Boy, and Paul Walter Hauser is a voice on the animated Chosen series. we’ve seen Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, and many other A-listers brush with the sub genre, and it is because the overall consistency and quality has improved. Kirk Cameron no longer needs to Save Christmas. Far more talented people are doing it in front of and behind the cameras. The genre is so flooded, it is probably why Tyler Perry has given up producing anything faith based himself anymore.

hazel’s Heart is a film I had no idea existed. then, as most reviews happen, a large man approached me, tears streaming down from his eyes, and he said “Sir. Sir, could you please review Hazel’s Heart? It is doing well on the Angel streaming service.” his name was Samuel Goldwyn, and he sounded cute, so sure. Kidding aside, i don’t ahve the Angel app, as there are just o many streaming apps and not enough time. plus, I’m fairly certain Angel’s app doesn’t have audio description, and I’ve made it my life’s mission to harass AMC Networks until I get them to at least use their own audio description on their own service.

Hazel’s Heart is somewhat a Christian movie, but not in a heavy handed way, where it feels too preachy. it is a historical survival drama, in which people pray, because people pray in the face of uncertain danger. Hazel is the oldest of three, and she is responsible for her younger brother and sister. Her family is poor, and they trek in to a rural school. Hazel is bullied, for smelling weird, which I feel is probably a far more common problem in a rural school, and clearly has little to no confidence. She shakes during a brief presentation, which is a bible verse. Again, this is the 1920’s, and we’re in the middle of not much. I’ll roll with it.

the teacher sees a storm moving in fast, and sends the students home. that means Hazel doesn’t get to spend more time with the boy who just started to notice her. And, he had just invited her to his 18th birthday party. Darn. So, back at the homestead, we get a really uncomfortable and poorly written scene, where Hazel’s mom yells at their dad that the school called to go pick them up. He could care less, but he’ll spend the rest of the movie caring far more.

A blizzard hits, and Hazel has to figure out how to shelter herself and her siblings from the blistering cold. she has no food, and she just keeps trying to get them to not have frost bite. her younger brother is headstrong and sassy, but I like him. Her sister is adorable. her only job is to be adorable. So, the rest of the film is a survival story, and a race against time. Dad suddenly cares like his life depends on it, and calls everyone he can to try and rally a search party. Hazel’s hopeful boyfriend even gets ready to ride his horse out and look for Hazel. And they say chivalry is dead.

No more. No spoilers here. the direction is more than competent, and I wouldn’t have known if this was low budget or not if they had just hired better adults. Oddly, the kids are amazing, poorly directed, but amazing. The acting from the adults, is spotty. But all the featured child actors only suffer from a lack of direction to the time period. They don’t sound like they are in the 1920’s. Hazel’s main antagonist bully could be headlining a Disney Channel show right ow. No changes needed.That’s not really their fault.

Also, what is up with all this phone calling? In the 20’s, in rural Dakota, this was still when not everyone had a phone. we didn’t have the conglomerate telephone company. you picked up your phone, and an operator was on the other end. We did have numbers, but we still had operators, and this predates area codes by two decades. Heck, in the 1920’s, people still had party lines. If you wish to make a period piece, make one. If you plan to ignore the period, then modernize it so it doesn’t matter.

this is also a review reflecting no audio description, but it isn’t like the plot is hard to follow. kids try to survive a blizzard. it is really that simple. The question is how, will they, and how they fight back. I think the budget is likely a little low, and I can’t imagine the visuals look super crisp. But, as a blind film critic, the quality of visual effects never sways my grading. I’m focused on everything else.

I didn’t like the lack of attention to the period, the script has some bumpy parts, and not all the adult actors knew how to deliver their lines. on the other hand, the story is compelling, the children are lovely and excellent, and there are a few well written scenes around the bumpy ones. the score isn’t distractingly bad or anything, but also wasn’t memorable, so I’d say that’s an even factor, with no gain or loss. it sounds like a well made film. So, surprisingly, I’m positive on this. Not because it renewed my faith or anything, but because I did enjoy it more than not, and I would recommend it to anyone who says “I have the Angel app, what should I watch?” Blind viewers, probably not our thing, but if you’re a Christian who only consumes faith based film, you’ve probably given up already on having your accessibility met considering how long it took for The Chosen to get description.

Hazel’s Heart isn’t perfect, but it has enough warmth to melt the coldest of reactions, and found a host of young actors and actresses I’d love to see get cast again.

Fresh: 6.7/10