The movie studio behind the distribution of surprise smash Sound of Freedom hopes to repudiate the model of Hollywood gatekeeping that has kept the low-budget thriller about the global child-trafficking trade out of theaters for nearly a decade.

Angel Studios, a distribution company based in Provo, Utah, released Sound of Freedom on July 4th to a $14million theatrical debut – besting the Disney/Lucasfilm most recent Indiana Jones and forcing Hollywood to look twice at both the film and its distributor. …

‘Let’s assume that, like me, you’re not a right-wing fundamentalist conspiracy theorist looking for a dark, faith-based suspense film to see over the holiday weekend,’ wrote Variety’s Owen Gleiberman.

‘Even then, you needn’t hold extreme beliefs to experience ‘Sound of Freedom’ as a compelling movie that shines an authentic light on one of the crucial criminal horrors of our time, one that Hollywood has mostly shied away from.’

[I reviewed the film almost two weeks ago, and I’m going to see it tonight again in the theater, along with friends of mine from our church. If you want to break the Hollywood gatekeeping model, support films that challenge it. — Ed]