Is ‘The Shack’ Based on a True Story?

Stuart Hazeldine’s 2017 Christian drama film The Shack tells a story of faith, grief, and reconciliation with an unexpectedly fantastical twist.

Sam Worthington stars in the movie as Mackenzie “Mack” Phillips, a man living a seemingly idyllic life after poisoning his abusive father as a boy. But when his youngest child is murdered by a serial killer, a distraught Mack receives a letter inviting him to an abandoned shack in the Oregon wilderness. There, he meets an enigmatic trio of strangers who promise to challenge his crisis of faith.

If you’re wondering whether or not The Shack is based on a true story, here’s everything you need to know.

IS THE SHACK BASED ON A TRUE STORY?

Nope. The Shack is based on William Paul Young’s novel of the same name, which was inspired by the author’s own Christian beliefs and difficult relationship with his father.

“I was raising issues and asking questions… There were conversations [with God] about pain, loss, suffering, and being human. There was a dialogue,” Young told the New York Post. “I started having notes, pages, and drafts on backs of napkins and grocery bags of these little conversations, and I piled them all up. I thought, what if I write a story about who’s asking these questions and why.”

IS THE SHACK ON NETFLIX? WHERE TO WATCH THE SHACK:

Yep! The Shack is available to stream on Netflix.

You can also rent the film starting at $1.99 on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video, Vudu, and YouTube.

IS THERE A TRAILER FOR THE SHACK?

There sure is! Scroll up to watch the official trailer for The Shack.

Where to watch The Shack