David Animated Film Review: A Disturbing Misfire in Family Entertainment

To call David a mere misstep would be to grant it a level of naivety it simply does not warrant. This animated feature, brought to the screen by Angel Studios—the same outfit behind Sound of Freedom—presents itself as wholesome family fare, yet it is anything but. The film is delivered with a clear ideological slant, which feels particularly jarring given the current global climate.

Sanitised History and Heavy-Handed Messaging

Directors Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham have opted to transform a tale of conquest into a syrupy, Sunday School-style lesson, glossing over the complexities of the era. The attempt to recast history is anything but subtle, resulting in a production that is as visually unappealing as it is intellectually troubling. Rather than offering a nuanced narrative, the film serves as a platform for a worldview that many will find deeply problematic.

The script is grating, lacking both humour and depth. Characters are stripped of historical authenticity, instead becoming mouthpieces for contemporary political rhetoric. Audiences are subjected to lines such as

“We are His people”

and

“We must fight for our God”

, delivered with the fervour of a rally rather than the nuance of a cinematic story. At nearly two hours, the film feels interminable, dragging viewers through a distorted retelling of the Book of Samuel.

Visuals, Character Design, and Underlying Prejudices

On the visual front, the film is a let-down. Yet, the real issue lies in the character design, which reveals a more insidious intent. The depiction of the Philistines as a faceless, darker-skinned mass leans heavily into harmful stereotypes, stripping them of any semblance of humanity. They are presented as brutish and cruel, with no room for nuance, making the violence against them feel calculated and cold.

Curiously, Goliath is the only figure with distinctly white features, cast as a “God-hating demon,” which introduces a confusing and troubling racial dynamic. The Israelites, meanwhile, are rendered just ambiguous enough to claim authenticity without alienating certain audiences. This visual approach seems designed to dehumanise one group while sanitising another.

Technical Shortcomings and Performances

From a technical perspective, David is nothing short of embarrassing. The animation, courtesy of Sunrise Animation Studios, is flat and uninspired, more reminiscent of a low-budget mobile game than a cinematic release. Backgrounds, allegedly based on real-world research, appear generic and lifeless. Character models lack expression, moving with a stiffness that drains any emotional weight from the scenes.

The soundtrack fares no better, consisting of bland, worship-inspired tunes that do little to support the narrative. The casting of Christian music stars such as Phil Wickham and Lauren Daigle does not pay off, as neither delivers a convincing performance. Miri Mesika’s portrayal of Nitzevet is particularly wooden, and even experienced voice actors are unable to salvage the script’s stilted dialogue.

Dangerous Narratives and Political Undertones

The film’s portrayal of conflict is where it becomes truly concerning. By framing the story solely through the lens of divine entitlement, the filmmakers remove any sense of moral ambiguity. Violence is depicted as both necessary and righteous, transforming what could have been a thoughtful retelling into a modern political statement disguised as animation. The real-world context is ignored in favour of a narrative that dehumanises the opposition to a disturbing extent.

David is a manipulative piece of work that manages to alienate viewers across the board. It takes a biblical account and turns it into a vehicle for a divisive message, stripping away any spiritual substance in favour of a political agenda. In attempting to present a story of divine right and conquest to a young audience, while disregarding the bloody history of the region, Angel Studios has produced a film that is, at best, deeply misguided.