Evan McNary’s RAGGED HEART is a rust-toned, back-woods musical journey toward a father’s redemption — Austin Film Festival review

“Ragged Heart” is a film created by filmmakers Evan McNary (director & co-writer), his sister Debrah McNary (co-writer) and Joshua Fritts (DP) about a musician dad, once revered for his talent, who became a tragic cliché of bad choices, failed dreams, and estrangement from his daughter whom he attempted to reconnect with over a birthday gift just before she died.

With poignant supernatural overtones, the filmmakers created a feature film that draws you in with striking visuals and gritty soulful music transporting you into a unique place and time—the legendary music scene and backroads of Athens, GA.

The only thing lavish here is the spirit of music and creativity, otherwise many of the film’s characters are swaddled in a quiet, resolute socio-economic and existential despair with their hearts still very much alive and fixated on their dreams. The filmmakers capture this complexity with an eye of beauty and depth.

Grief, redemption, reconciliation, and revenge are palpable themes of this film—providing a thread of commonality and emotional connection for its audience. The supernatural element is explored with subtlety, enhancing its believability where the audience is left questioning what’s real or imagined, what’s intuition or mental illness, and how these lines are easily blurred.

The convergence of creativity and creatives along with their dreams, fears, demons, and gifts helps make the story multi-dimensional and relatable.

The film’s supporting characters each do their part in taking the narrative on its journey primarily through the experiences of the dad.

The writing and dialogue uniquely embody each character created, and the performances could not have been more authentically executed.

The pace might be a little sauntering for some moviegoers who have become more accustomed to the traditional Hollywood fast-paced, action-driven tempo. But for those willing to dive into the spirit of indie character-driven art film dramas, you won’t be disappointed.

This is a film that is captivating because of its haunting realism, exploring the depths of grief and redemption in a way that feels immersive and sticks with you.

Evan McNary’s RAGGED HEART is a rust-toned, back-woods musical journey toward a father’s redemption — Austin Film Festival