Valley of the Shadow of Death Review
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” is a notable biblical verse from Psalm 23:4, and part of the phrase opens the powerful song Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio. The quote suggests that God will guide and protect us during times of great distress, danger, or hardship. But will God really protect us? The existence of God is a deeply contentious topic. Assuming He exists, it raises difficult questions: why do people of faith face hardship if they are devout believers and have committed no sins? And if people do sin and God forgives them, are they truly free of guilt and fully forgiven? The film Valley of the Shadow of Death explores the idea of God through the lens of forgiveness and examines what it means to endure hardship.
It has been three years since the passing of Pastor Leung’s (Anthony Wong) daughter. He believes that if people do not suffer, then we have no need for God. His faith is tested when he begins distributing food to the homeless. Miss Lung introduces Lok to the pastor, wondering if he can stay at the church while he finds his feet. Unbeknownst to Miss Lung and Lok (George Au), Pastor Leung knows exactly who Lok is; he is the reason Leung’s daughter died. Lok is seeking forgiveness through God for his past actions, leaving Pastor Leung torn between two ideals: taking vengeance for his daughter or fulfilling his role as a pastor by guiding Lok towards redemption.
The fundamental concept of the film is both its greatest strength and its most significant weakness. Exploring forgiveness through religion is a compelling vehicle for examining the hypocrisy within faith. As God cannot forgive an individual for their actions, it’s the people who are affected by the act. Throughout the film, Pastor Leung repeatedly tells Lok that God forgives him, but does Leung, as a grieving father, truly forgive Lok for what he did? Valley of the Shadow of Death handles the emotional weight of this story with remarkable depth and is genuinely thought-provoking. We learn early on that Lok raped Pastor Leung’s daughter. When the film attempts to contextualise Lok’s actions, it undermines much of its thematic impact around forgiveness.
Rape is arguably one of the most sadistic and repugnant crimes a man can commit; it’s also an act many consider unforgivable. Yet when Lok explains his motivations, the narrative seems to cast Pastor Leung’s daughter in a negative light, revealing she is not the innocent angel she has been portrayed to be. While what she did to Lok is disturbing and cruel, raping her as an act of revenge is heinous. I don’t believe Valley of the Shadow of Death is justifying Lok’s crime, but in a story centred on forgiveness, choosing such an extreme act as the catalyst dilutes its message. It’s difficult to engage with the film’s themes when the thought persists: Lok raped someone.
It is disappointing that the film’s message is undermined, as on a technical level, the film is visually and audibly striking. The cinematography contributes to the pervasive sense of dread that permeates the entire film, and the unique score further enhances the rising tension. The film also features strong performances; Anthony Wong and George Au are particularly compelling as Pastor Leung and Lok, respectively. Allowing the exploration of faith and forgiveness to thrive.
Valley of the Shadow of Death explores deeply relevant themes of faith and forgiveness, though they are muddled by its execution. When the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but reflect on its message and on the strength of its performances, cinematography, and soundtrack. However, I struggle to believe that anyone could forgive Lok, and that disbelief undermines the film’s message.
★★★1/2
In UK Cinemas from November 14th / Anthony Wong, Louisa So, George Au, Sheena Chan, Summer Chan / Dir: Jeffrey Lam Sen & Antonio Tam / Showalker UK / 15
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