The Young Messiah Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Young Jesus discovers he has magic powers, but nobody tells him why, while Sean Bean tries to hunt him down because some king is still mad about the whole ‘born in Bethlehem’ thing.

🍿 The Young Messiah: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Escape from Bethlehem

The story begins with seven-year-old Jesus living with his family in Alexandria, Egypt. They fled there years earlier to escape King Herod the Great’s brutal order to massacre male infants in Bethlehem. Jesus is aware that he is different from other children and that his parents, Mary and Joseph, are keeping secrets about his origins.

The Call Home and Renewed Danger

Upon hearing that King Herod the Great has died, Joseph believes it is safe for the family to return to their homeland of Nazareth in Israel. However, they are unaware that Herod’s son, Herod Antipas, has taken over the throne and is equally determined to find and eliminate the boy who is rumored to be the Jewish Messiah. A Roman centurion named Severus is tasked with hunting him down.

A Perilous Journey and Growing Awareness

As the family undertakes the long and dangerous journey back to Israel, Jesus experiences events that highlight his unique nature, including performing minor miracles he doesn’t fully understand. These occurrences increase his questioning and Mary and Joseph’s struggle to explain his miraculous birth and purpose. A mysterious figure, representing Satan, also follows Jesus, testing and observing him.

Arrival in Nazareth and Trip to Jerusalem

The family eventually reaches Nazareth, hoping for peace. However, the threat from Herod Antipas and Severus remains. The story culminates with the family’s journey to Jerusalem for Passover when Jesus is seven (differing from the traditional account of him being twelve at the Temple).

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jesus (Adam Greaves-Neal): The seven-year-old boy who begins to discover his divine identity and miraculous abilities.
• Joseph (Vincent Walsh): Jesus’s protective earthly father, who struggles to conceal the truth of his son’s origins.
• Mary (Sara Lazzaro): Jesus’s loving mother who guards the secret of his birth while guiding him on their journey.
• Severus (Sean Bean): A Roman centurion dispatched by Herod’s son to hunt down and kill the boy Jesus.
• The Demon (Rory Keenan): A malevolent entity who follows Jesus, seeking to understand and tempt the young messiah.
• Herod (Jonathan Bailey): King Herod’s son, who inherits his father’s fear and determination to eliminate the rumored messiah.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• The Demon: “Who are you?” – Whispered repeatedly to young Jesus, representing Satan’s attempts to understand and tempt him.
• Mary: “There are things you are too young to understand yet.” – Mary often says this or similar to Jesus when he questions his unusual abilities and origins, trying to protect him from overwhelming truths.
• Jesus: “Why can I do things other children cannot?” – Young Jesus directly asks his mother, Mary, questions about the miraculous events that occur around him and his own unique nature.
• Jesus: “I think I’m here just to be alive. To see it, hear it, feel it, all of it. Even when it hurts. Someday you will tell me why else I’m here. I don’t know when, but you will. I know that. Because, Father, I am your child.” – Part of Jesus’s concluding reflection at the end of the film, speaking to his Heavenly Father about his journey and growing understanding.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $18,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $6,490,401
• Worldwide Gross: $7,330,338

💥 The Young Messiah Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘The Young Messiah’ expecting something maybe a bit preachy, but it wasn’t really that. It’s more of a historical drama trying to fill in the blanks about Jesus’ childhood, which is fascinating territory! I was really invested in the idea of Mary and Joseph trying to raise this extraordinary child and keeping his identity secret. The danger element with Sean Bean’s character hunting them added some decent tension. I particularly liked the scene where young Jesus interacts with the blind rabbi; it felt very touching. Sure, some parts feel a bit slow, and if you’re expecting strict biblical adherence to every detail, this isn’t it. But as a creative ‘what if’ story, I found myself thinking about it long after it ended. The young actor playing Jesus was surprisingly good, capturing a mix of innocence and something more profound.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in faith-based historical dramas”
  • “Fans of speculative stories about biblical figures”
  • “Audiences open to fictional interpretations of lesser-known biblical periods”
  • “Those looking for a film exploring Jesus’ early life from a unique perspective”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Sequences of violence (implied and depicted)”
  • “Disturbing thematic material (infant massacre, pursuit)”
  • “Presence of a frightening demon character”

Professional Reviews

• Film Critic: “This film, based on an Anne Rice novel, takes a speculative look at Jesus’ childhood, a period not detailed in scripture. While it boasts beautiful Italian scenery and earnest performances, notably from Adam Greaves-Neal as young Jesus and Sean Bean as the pursuing centurion, its narrative feels flat at times. The ‘Jesus doesn’t know he’s divine’ angle, while a creative choice, doesn’t always land. It’s a visually appealing and well-acted film, but its unconventional approach to a sacred subject may divide audiences looking for strict biblical accuracy.
• Religious Site Reviewer: “Based on non-canonical texts, this movie presents a controversial take on the young Messiah, portraying him as unaware of his divine nature while performing miracles. This significantly deviates from traditional biblical understanding. While the production quality is high and the acting competent, the core premise is likely to be unsettling for viewers seeking a biblically accurate portrayal. It feels more like a fantasy story, raising questions about the accuracy versus creative license in faith-based films.

Audience Reactions

Sean Bean chasing Jesus added unexpected thriller vibes.: Many appreciated the speculative approach to an unknown period and found the scenery and acting strong, especially Adam Greaves-Neal as Jesus and Sean Bean as Severus.

The film made me think about Jesus as a child.: Viewers were divided on the historical and biblical accuracy, but some praised it for being thought-provoking and engaging as historical fiction.

Overall Consensus: A visually competent and well-acted historical drama that sparks debate due to its speculative, non-biblical take on Jesus’ childhood, appealing more to viewers open to creative interpretation than strict historical accuracy.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie is based on the 2005 novel ‘Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt’ by Anne Rice, known for her vampire novels.”
• “The screenplay incorporated elements from various apocryphal texts about Jesus’s childhood, which are not included in the biblical canon.”
• “Principal photography took place in Matera, Italy, known for its ancient cave dwellings (Sassi di Matera), which provided a realistic setting for the historical period.”
• “Many cast members, including the young actor playing Jesus, spoke with British accents, which drew criticism from some viewers regarding historical and regional accuracy.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Young Messiah?

To watch ‘The Young Messiah’, check major digital platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play, where it is typically available for rent or purchase. Availability on subscription streaming services may vary over time, but digital purchase and rental are common options for this film. You can also check for physical media like DVD or Blu-ray if you prefer.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Young Messiah, you might like these similar films:

• The Nativity Story (2006): Directly covers the period immediately preceding ‘The Young Messiah,’ focusing on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, Jesus’s birth, and the flight to Egypt.
• Risen (2016): Released the same year, it offers a Roman perspective on events surrounding Jesus, providing historical context similar to the world depicted in ‘The Young Messiah,’ but from the viewpoint of a Roman tribune investigating the resurrection.
• The Way (2010): While featuring adult characters, it centers on a spiritual journey/pilgrimage that leads to self-discovery and reflection, echoing the thematic undercurrent of Jesus’s journey of discovery in ‘The Young Messiah.’
• Midnight Special (2016): A modern thriller featuring a child with extraordinary abilities who is protected by his father while on the run, paralleling the themes of a unique child being pursued and protected.
• Jesus of Nazareth (1977): A highly acclaimed and comprehensive miniseries that covers Jesus’s entire life, considered a classic portrayal in the religious film genre that fans of biblical epics might appreciate.

🛒 The Young Messiah Related Products

• Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt: A Novel (Christ the Lord, 1): The original novel by Anne Rice upon which the movie is based, offering a deeper dive into the narrative and themes of Jesus’ childhood.
• The Young Messiah (DVD or Blu-ray): Own the movie to rewatch the journey of young Jesus and his family fleeing persecution and discovering his identity.
• Historical Atlas of the Bible: A detailed atlas featuring maps, timelines, and illustrations of biblical lands during the time of Jesus, providing context for the film’s setting.
• Ancient Middle East Coins Reproduction Set: A set of replica coins from the Roman and Judaean periods, similar to those that would have been in circulation during the time of Jesus.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Young Messiah features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Barcheinu Avinu” – performed by Shlomo Carlebach

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Behind the Scenes | The Young Messiah | Now Playing

Ever wonder what it takes to bring a story like ‘The Young Messiah’ to the screen? This behind-the-scenes peek is a must-watch – seeing how they recreated that world is seriously cool!

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