Why you should watch Sound of Freedom

This week, I was finally able to go and see Sound of Freedom, the movie from Angel Studios based on the true story of a U.S. federal agent Tim Ballard and his incredible efforts to combat child sex trafficking.

Without giving too much away — because you should go and see this movie — it provides a shocking insight into not only the horrors of child sex trafficking, but the sheer scale of what has become a multi-billion-dollar global industry.

Sound of Freedom is making headlines, and not just for its box office success, having sold over 8.9 million tickets and passing $100 million in box office revenue. Not only did the movie face an uphill battle to even reach theaters — with 20th Century Fox dropping the project in 2018 after Disney bought the studio — there are people in the mainstream media fighting to bury its message as we speak.

NPR reported that “QAnon supporters are promoting ‘Sound of Freedom.’” Buried deep in the article is the admission that “Sound of Freedom itself doesn’t contain any references to adrenochrome or other conspiracy theories,” and was “actually filmed before QAnon conspiracy theories became a widespread phenomenon.”

The Guardian went with “Trump hosts screening of Sound of Freedom, a hit with QAnon devotees.”

And Advocate had “Why Right-Wing Conspiracy Theorists Are Embracing Sound of Freedom.”

Now, I’m not going to make the absurd argument that outlets, politicians and media figures criticizing this movie or acting to undermine the message of this movie endorse child abuse or sex trafficking — an unfair and damaging argument being spread by some.

But given that this movie is based on a true story, doesn’t contain reference to any conspiracy theories mentioned by critics, and addresses the issue of child sex trafficking through a moving and international lens (with a particular focus on the abuse of children in the United States), what’s motivating their outrage?

Aren’t we all on the same page?

Well, unfortunately, we’re not.