''Saving Shiloh'' is a 2006 American

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Sandy Tung Sandy Tung is an American independent film director, writer and producer. He was born on Staten Island, New York. He received an MFA in filmmaking from New York University. His feature films include ''A Marriage'' (1983), ''Across the Tracks'' ...

, based on the book of the same name written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. It is the third and final film in the

trilogy A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games, and are less common in other art forms. Three-part wor ...

, whose other members are '' Shiloh'' and '' Shiloh Season''.

Plot

The movie begins with Marty Preston (

Jason Dolley Jason Scott Dolley (born July 5, 1991) is an American actor and musician, known for his roles in Disney Channel shows and movies. These include List of Cory in the House characters#Newton Livingston III, Newton "Newt" Livingston III on ''Cory in ...

) explaining the events of '' Shiloh'' and '' Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season''. Then Judd Travers ( Scott Wilson) shows up at the Preston home with dead squirrels as a present for Marty and his family for helping him after his truck accident in the second film. A fearful Shiloh runs into the kitchen since he is still scared of Judd. Marty's sister, Becky (Liberty Smith), embarrasses her mother, Lou ( Ann Dowd) when she calls Judd the meanest man since Judd says he has eaten dead squirrels all his life. Soon, Marty hears from his two best friends, David Howard (

Jordan Garrett Jordan Garrett (born December 17, 1992) is an American actor. Garrett has made guest appearances in numerous television shows, including '' Law & Order: SVU'', ''Crossing Jordan'', ''Criminal Minds'', '' Six Feet Under'', ''Medium'', ''Hidden Hi ...

) and Sam Wallace ( Taylor Momsen), that after a fist fight, a drunken Judd has been charged with murder. Marty brings Judd some squirrel stew and offers to help Judd, believing that he hasn't committed murder. Soon after, when Marty is helping Judd build a fence for his hunting dogs, Judd accidentally steps on one of his dog's paws. The dog starts attacking Judd, biting his good leg. Judd doesn't show any fear, grabbing the dog and swinging him at a fence. Afterward, when Dara Lynn (

Kyle Chavarria ''Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie'' is a 2005 American western television miniseries directed by David L. Cunningham. It is a six-part adaptation of children's novels '' Little House in the Big Woods'' (1932) and '' Little House ...

), another of Marty's sisters, falls into a lake, Marty jumps in to save her. Shiloh jumps in to help but gets caught in the current, which leads toward Miller Falls. Marty goes back into the lake to save Shiloh but gets caught in a branch. Seeing this, Judd jumps off a cliff into the lake to free Marty. Marty explains to Judd that Shiloh is going to go over the waterfall unless he saves him. Judd saves Shiloh and begins a friendship with Marty and Shiloh. Judd joins the local fire and rescue department after his acts of bravery. The film ends with Marty saying, "If you open your heart, anything is possible."

Cast

as Martin "Marty" Preston *

as David Howard * Taylor Momsen as Samantha "Sam" Wallace * Scott Wilson as Judd Travers * Ann Dowd as Louise "Lou" Preston * Gerald McRaney as Raymond "Ray" Preston *

Liberty Smith Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

as Rebecca "Becky" Preston *

as Dara Lynn Preston

Reception

While Richard Roeper said that he felt as if he "were being preached to throughout this film",

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

says that it is a "family film that deals with real problems and teaches real values, and yet is exciting and entertaining." It has a rating of 36% on Rotten Tomatoes.

References

External links

* * 2006 films Films about dogs Warner Bros. films American children's drama films Films based on children's books Films about pets Mark Twain Awards 2000s English-language films 2000s American films {{child-film-stub