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The Blind (film)

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The Blind
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Hyatt
Screenplay by
  • Stephanie Katz
  • Andrew Hyatt
Story byZach Dasher
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChris Stacey
Edited byJohn Lange
Music bySean Philip Johnson
Production
companies
  • The Blind Production LLC
  • Tread Lively
  • Stacey Films
  • GND Media Group
Distributed byFathom Events
Release date
  • September 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$17.3 million[1][2]

The Blind (also known as The Blind: The True Story of the Robertson Family) is a 2023 American Christian biographical drama film directed by Andrew Hyatt, who co-wrote the screenplay with Stephanie Katz. The film details the life of Duck Commander's Phil Robertson and Kay Robertson and their family until 1985, long before their Duck Dynasty fame.[3][4]

Plot

The film introduces Phil Robertson (portrayed by Aron Von Andrian) and his friend, Big Al Bolen (played by Connor Tillman), as they engage in duck hunting from a duck blind. Through a series of successive flashbacks, the narrative unfolds to reveal Robertson's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a multimillionaire icon.

Robertson candidly shares the tumultuous chapters of his past, which led him down a path of alcoholism and despair, hindering his potential for success. The film does not shy away from portraying Robertson's missteps, with his friend Big Al often remarking on their recklessness, to which Robertson acknowledges his past errors. One such line after one of the stories by Big Al is "that's a bad move," and Phil responds "one of many."

Key moments highlighted include Robertson's decision to leave behind his wife Kay (portrayed by Amelia Eve) and their children, as well as his missed opportunity for stardom as a high school football hero alongside future NFL star Terry Bradshaw.

However, the story lies in Robertson's journey of redemption thanks to Kay, Pastor Bill Smith (portrayed by John Ales), brother Si (portrayed by Aaron Dalla Villa), and sister Jan (portrayed by Emily DeForest). Through his faith in Jesus and a newfound commitment to his family, he discovers the true meaning of love and perseverance. The film underscores Robertson's unwavering dedication to supporting his loved ones, demonstrating his willingness to do whatever it takes to make amends and forge a brighter future.

Cast

  • Aron von Andrian as Phil Robertson
    • Ronan Carroll as Phil, age 12
    • Matthew Erick White as Phil, age 17
  • Amelia Eve as Kay Robertson (née Carroway)
    • Scarlett Abinante as Kay, age 11
    • Brielle Robillard as Kay, age 16
  • Connor Tillman as Big Al Bolen
  • John Ales as Pastor Bill Smith
  • Kerry Knuppe as Merritt Robertson
  • Aaron Dalla Villa as Si Robertson
    • Brasher Russell as Si, age 10
    • Grant Davidson as Si, age 15
  • Emily DeForest as Jan
    • Ezra DuVall as Jan, age 6
    • Sofia Sorano Xavier as Jan, age 12
  • Clint James as James Robertson
  • Whitney Goin as Wanita Carroway
  • Tom McCafferty as Willie Carroway
  • Jackson Dean Vincent as Alan Robertson, age 8-10
  • Sawyer Jesse Mixon as Jase Robertson, age 4-6
  • Nick Milone as young Terry Bradshaw

Production

The film was shot in Shreveport, Louisiana in early 2022.[5] Korie Robertson acted as a producer, while Willie Robertson was an executive producer. The Robertson family appeared in a behind the scenes podcast called The Blind Movie Podcast.[6]

Release

The film was released in theaters on September 28, 2023 by Fathom Events.[7]

Box office

The film took first place on its opening day with $844,783 from 1,715 theaters.[8] It went on to debut to $4.1 million finishing in sixth place.[9][10] In its second weekend, despite losing 401 theaters, the film grossed $4 million (an increase of 12.9%), finishing in fifth.[11]

As of its release The Blind became Fathom Events' highest-grossing domestic theatrical release.[12]

Home media

It was released on digital download on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and other platforms on November 3, 2023,[13][6] and was officially released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 14 in the US.[14]

Sony Entertainment and Great American Media announced they had streaming rights for the film on Great American Pure Flix, starting on March 22, 2024.[15]

Reception

Mike McGranaghan from The Aisle Seat gave the film a rating of 3/4, noting that Phil Robertson's fans and even those less familiar with him may find it enjoyable and insightful.[16] Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru described it as a "genuinely heartfelt, honest, and inspirational emotional journey well worth taking."[17] However, Roger Moore of Movie Nation had a less favorable opinion, giving the film a rating of 1.5/4, expressing that it lacked overall fact-checking quality.[18]

References

  1. ^ "The Blind". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ "The Blind (2023)". The Numbers. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. ^ Holz, Adam R. "The Blind". PluggedIn. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  4. ^ Carrol, Rob (4 October 2023). "'Duck Dynasty' Movie Director Promises 'Deep, Dark' Secret Background of Phil Robertson". Taste of Country. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. ^ Hilburn, Greg. "'The Blind' movie tells the stormy story of Phil Robertson before 'Duck Dynasty'". Shreveport Times. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Christensen, Kynlee (November 7, 2023). "You Can Now Watch "The Blind" At Home". Country Rebel - Unapologetically Country. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Rouse, Isaac (27 September 2023). "New 'Duck Dynasty' Movie 'The Blind' Tells Phil Robertson Origin Story". TV Insider. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Duck Dynasty's The Blind Lands Top 5 Spot At Box Office". Movieguide. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  9. ^ Childress, Erik. "Weekend Box Office Results: Paw Patrol Fetches No. 1 Opening". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  10. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 1, 2023). "'PAW Patrol 2' Is The Top Dog At Box Office With $23M Opening – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 8, 2023). "The Devil Is In The Details: Making Sense Of 'The Exorcist: Believer's $27M+ Opening After Universal & Blumhouse Shelled Out $400M For Franchise – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (October 23, 2023). "The Blind Is Now Fathom Events Highest-Grossing Release Ever". Deadline. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Marnell, Blair (November 2, 2023). "What's new on VOD and Digital in November 2023". Digital Trends. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "The Blind Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  15. ^ Mayer, Marissa (March 7, 2024). "Celebrate Easter by Watching 'The Blind' Coming Soon to Great American Pure Flix!". Great American Pure Flix. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ^ McGranaghan, Mike. "The Blind". The Aisle Seat. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Reviews for September 29th, 2023". nycmovieguru.com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  18. ^ Moore, Roger (October 2023). "Movie Review: A Duck Dynasty's origin myth is related in "The Blind"". Movie Nation. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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