This movie thinly scatters a parable’s worth of plot across 134 minutes and resembles HBO’s Deadwood recut for Sunday-school purposes: pious, puzzling and punitive, with a sternly wagging finger never far from entering the frame.

Redeeming Love could have tried to reach a broader audience but settles for preaching to the choir.

"Love" might be best embraced by the faithful, but it is well made and has much to say about the healing power of love and how we all deserve second chances.

The leads are earnest, but lack chemistry, while the script rams its points home like a piledriver.