The film Last Days, directed by Justin Lin, revisits the death of John Allen Chau, the young American missionary killed by the Sentinelese after illegally reaching their isolated island. In 2018, media coverage turned his story into a mockery, even awarding him a "Darwin Award" for supposedly having "eliminated his own lineage." This simplistic reading, however, fails to do justice to the young man's spiritual depth.
The film pushes back against this caricature. Justin Lin, known for far more mainstream productions, wanted to treat Chau with respect—without idolatry or condemnation. The result is a visually beautiful work, sincere in its intentions, but one that, lacking a solid conclusion, struggles to convey the authentic scope of the missionary vocation.
The Formation of a Determined Missionary
John, portrayed by Sky Yang, comes from a wealthy Vancouver family. His father dreamed of a medical career for him, until the day the father was arrested for illegal prescriptions. This family downfall had a decisive effect: John renounced the easy path and devoted himself entirely to Christ.
He attended Oral Roberts University, then joined the Protestant missionary organization All Nations. His first journeys took him to Mexico, South Africa, and Iraq. But his deepest desire was oriented toward one of the last uncontacted peoples: the inhabitants of North Sentinel Island.
His determination did not waver despite a first brutal failure. For him, these souls deprived of Christ deserved that one risk everything to bring them the Gospel.
Throughout his preparation, John sought to discern the will of the Holy Spirit, praying, reading Scripture, interpreting signs. But one element was missing: ecclesial accompaniment. He never consulted a pastor, never confronted his spiritual intuitions with a recognized authority. This lack of shared discernment, so frequent in Protestant circles but also sometimes among isolated Catholics, weakened his decisions.
Tradition teaches clearly: the voice of the Spirit is always verified in unity with the Church, with humility. Without this, fervor can become blind.
The Young Man's Inner Tensions
The film shows this fragility well during an encounter with a blonde tourist he helps get around. They end up drinking, partying, and almost going further. She then accuses him of "genocide" upon discovering his mission. Yet, she and her friends exploit local populations without scruple, which John points out to her. Troubled, he spends the night in prayer. The next day, convinced he had misinterpreted the signs, he confides in her: "I thought God wanted me to evangelize, but it was you." She turns her back, leaving him with a mixture of lucidity and inner turmoil.
A Secular Reading That Misses the Point
To the world, John is not an idiot, but a "misguided" young man. The film shows this through the eyes of Meera, an Indian police officer tasked with understanding what became of him. She speaks of him as a "lost" man, reducing his vocation to a personal escape, particularly from his complicated relationship with his father. But for a Christian heart, the essential point is not there. Saint Paul proclaimed that "the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." Chau knew he would be considered a fool; he accepted the disgrace. He weighed the judgment of the world and found it worthless compared to the treasure of the Gospel.