Based on a true story, End of the Spear is supposed to be some meaningful tale of the relationship that forms between the son of Nathan (Chad), the murdered Christian missionary who went to Ecuador to introduce God to the Waodani tribe and the tribe’s violent, and reluctant leader Mincayani (Louie). It seemed as if one would get to delve into the history and traditions of the Waodani and a seemingly worthy project for Christian groups to support. But, End of the Spear has garnered some harsh criticism from many pastors who are upset that gay Chad Allen was cast in the lead missionary role. Some pastors have even supported a boycott of the movie. Please!! I will give you a reason to boycott this movie and it has nothing to do with Chad’s homosexuality. The movie sucks! With the exception of the beautiful scenery, there isn’t a single, redeeming feature. Truly. Not since the likes of Catwoman (2003) have I seen such a wretched cinematic mess!

In 1956, Nathan (Chad), his family including son Steve (Chase), and four other families move to Ecuador and seek contact with the Waodani tribe. The missionaries believe that with God in their lives, Mincayani and the rest can be saved from themselves and the potential danger from outsiders who believe this violent tribe should be eliminated. The introduction of Christianity apparently has already worked on Dayumae (Christina), who left the tribe as a child and was befriended by the "foreigners" eventually becoming pals with Nathan’s sister Rachel (Sara). 

When the missionaries finally make contact with the Waodani their excitement is short-lived as things go awry and the missionary men are murdered. Unfortunately, for this pathetic movie, things go wrong a long time before Nathan and Mincayani come face to face and just continue to go downhill, plummeting to an embarrassingly anti-climatic, unbelievable end. True story, fictitious story. It does not matter. The acting is so mediocre, the make-up so laughable and the telling of the events so disjointed that I just did not care about its authenticity.

The gripping tale promised by the initial movie promos for End of the Spear did not materialize. Somehow it got lost in the final cut and there was no connection between Mincayani and Nathan's family. It must have happened off screen or in that 10-second span when I was trying to get my water bottle out of my purse.  And as if enduring this lethargic tale was not enough, someone got the bright idea to use Chad Allen as Nathan the father and grown-up Steve, Nathan's son. What?!?  Did they run out of money? Did they think that our brains would have been mush by then and that we wouldn't notice it was the same person? The opportunity was there to make a wonderful, touching movie, but instead it was just a bust. By the end of it, I wanted to gauge out my own eyes with the end of a spear, fingernail file, butter knife, something...