Heaven's Rain contains mature subject matter, including an accurate dramatization of the crime and surrounding events as they occurred. Parental guidance is advised.

If you are a victim of a crime looking for help, contact the National Organization for Victim Assistance at 1-800-TRY-NOVA or visit trynova.org.

About the Movie

Heaven's Rain, starring Brooks Douglass in his film debut, Mike Vogel (The Help) and Taryn Manning (Crazy/ Beautiful), captures one of the most important stories of our time, in which violence is challenged by the resilience and courage of one man's mission to find forgiveness, and to fight for victims' rights.

Douglass, who experienced a horrific tragedy at a young age, went on to become the youngest state senator in Oklahoma history, where he passed a series of groundbreaking victims' rights bills.

The movie is told through the eyes of Douglass, who suffered an unthinkable attack when two strangers entered his family's rural home and claimed the life of his mother and father. Brooks and his sister Leslie were teenagers when a drug-crazed drifter, Glen Ake, and his partner Steven Hatch invaded their home. Brooks opened the door to what he believed to be a man in need. The men pulled out guns, bound the family, repeatedly assaulted Leslie and shot all four family members. Richard and Marilyn, who were Baptist missionaries, died at the scene. Brooks and Leslie, left for dead, recovered from their physical wounds. But their ordeal had just begun.  

As the story flashes back in this intimate family portrait, we see happier times for the Douglass family and a home filled with love, compassion and faith. The story explores the positive, lasting effects of such an upbringing and how the power of forgiveness can triumph injustice, tragedy and loss.  

Ake and Hatch were caught, tried, and in 1980, sentenced to death. For the next 16 years, however, the suffering rolled on as a legal system, created to protect the rights of the accused, required the Douglass children to testify in court and relive the horrific night.

Brooks and Leslie were deeply affected by that traumatic night. They experienced financial challenges and emotional trauma. Leslie fought to put her life back together after the attack. Brooks struggled through high school and college, but eventually regained his footing as a senator.

In Heaven’s Rain, we see Brooks dedicating his life to gaining legal justice for the unjust and releasing himself from the prison of bitterness that had dominated his life and relationships. The film’s premiere date on GMC coincides with National Crime Victims Right Week. The network is planning a series of screening events and discussion in select cities to coincide with local community efforts.

Heaven’s Rain was written by Brooks Douglass and Paul Brown, who also directed the movie.