Saints and Soldiers

Saints and Soldiers is a religious-war film directed by Ryan Little and starring Corbin Allred, Alexander Polinsky, Kirby Heyborne, Larry Bagby, and Peter Holden.

Plot
(May contain spoilers, read at your own risk)

The story starts with MPs and other soldiers digging up the bodies of dead Americans while a news reporter reports the massacre on a radio.

Two weeks earlier...

The story takes place in December, 1944. An army of Germans attacks and overwhelms the Allied soldiers in the Ardennes Forest. This is the beginning of the infamous Battle of the Bulge. Around 100 Americans are captured by the Germans. They are hearded into a field and the Germans go through their pockets, taking bibles, cigarettes, money, and any other valuables they can find. One soldier has his bible taken away from him, but he manages to get it back by speaking to the German in his native language. The man's name is Cpl. Nathan Greer (Corbin Allred), better known as "Deacon" or "Deke". His close friend, SSgt. Gordon Gunderson (Peter Holden) is standing next to him. A wounded man is yelling, and Medic Steven Gould (Alexander Polinsky) tries to help him, only to be assaulted by a cruel German, who is apart of the Waffen SS. Another American soldier has his precious cigarettes taken away from him, this is Pvt. Shirley "Shirl" Kendrick (Larry Bagby).

Some of the soldiers think that they will be shot, and one even tries to run, but is shot and killed. In the ensuing confusion, the Americans grab a riflefrom a German and kill him, prompting every German to open fire. The German that had attacked Gould kills the wounded man he was working on as Gould tries to run with him. The ones who hadn't already been shot, run into the forest, followed by the Germans. Gould hides behind a log but the same German who killed his patient finds him and makes him stand up. But Deaon grabs the rifle out of his hands and subdues the German, whom he lets run, not wanting to shoot an unarmed man. Gould becomes angry with Deacon and yells at him. But they are interrupted by Gunderson, who waves them over to cover.

Back in the field, Germans rove between the dead soldiers, shooting all that may be alive. After the grizzly task is complete, they refuel their vehicles and leave. Kendrick emerges from beneath a dead GI, and runs into the forest, where he meets Gould, Gunderson, and Deacon.

They decide to make their way back to Allied lines, and wait until the Allies push forward to rejoin the fight. So, with one rifle, containing only 4 rounds, they begin to walk. They find a destroyed ambulance, and no survivors. The loot what they can, and send Deacon out to find shelter. Deacon walks through the forest, now wearing a heavy coat. He finds a doll, and is visibley disturbed by it. When he looks back, it is gone.

Deacon returns much later. While he was gone, Gould tells Gunderson that he thinks Deacon is shell shocked, and Kendrick voices his concern over Deacon, and wether or not he is qualified to be holding the weapon. Deacon leads the group to a smal shed that has fallen into direpair. Deacon takes first watch, and Gould discovers a small compartment under the shed. Deacon reads his bible, and looks at a picture of his wife, which he had hidden in his bible. Kendrick shows Gould a cool card trick. Deacon hears a noise, and looks up. He sees a person standing in the field. When he brings up his rifle, the person is gone. He begins to pray. Gunderson reveals his hometown, as does Gould, and Kendrick. Gunderson also reveals Deacon to be from Arizona. Deacon, hears another noise, and looks up, beleiving it to be another person, but instead sees a German jeep heading toward him. He runs inside and hides in the compartment with the others.

The Germans stop outside, and once they determine that there is no one there, they set up inside. The Germans eat, laugh, talk, and listen to German radio traffic. They hear a plane crash not far from them, and pack up and hed out to investigate. Deacon, who knows German, knows where to find the crashed plane. As they head toward the crash, they find a man stuck in a tree. He is Flt. Sgt. Oberon Winley (Kirby Heyborne). They get him down, and he immediately threatens Kendrick with his sidearm, believing them to be Germans in disguise. He makes the Americans answer a series of questions, some of which they get wrong. Winley eventually believes them, and releases Kendrick. Kendrick, at this point, decides he does not like Winley.

They head back to the shed, where Winley reveals that he has intelligence vital to the Allies, and that he must reach Allied HQ as soon as possible.

And so their journey begins.

Release
Due to the lack of well known actors and the low budget, Saints and Soldiers did not receive the attention it deserved, though it killed at the film festivals.

On opening weekend, the film grossed $129,056.

This was the highest opening weekend for Excel Entertainment.

In total, it earned $1,310,470.

Reception
Saints and Soldiers was mostly well received. Many criticized it for being boring, and borrowing to heavily from other war movies.

Many liked it for the complex and likable characters and the fantastic battle scenes.

Awards
The following graph was taken from the Internet Movie Database (IMDB):

Sequels
Two sequels for Saints and Soldiers have been confirmed: The first is set to come out Summer, 2012. The second is set to come out in 2013.
 * 1) Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed
 * 2) Saints and Soldiers: The Void