An earnest, plodding, sappy and poorly acted adaptation

THE Shack, starring Sam Worthington, is the uplifting spiritual journey of Mack Phillips, a devoted husband (Radha Mitchell plays his wife) and father of three.

Mack is on a camping weekend in the Oregon wilderness with the children when the youngest daughter (Amélie Eve) is abducted and murdered. He spirals into guilt and grief following the tragedy.

In his darkest hour a mysterious note arrives in his mailbox, summoning him to the remote shack where the daughter's bloody dress was found. There is no stamp, just a signature from the sender that says "God".