Los Angeles, Calif., Dec 9, 2013 / 16:27 pm
One of late actor Paul Walker's final movies – a thriller set to debut next week – is drawing praise for its life and family-affirming message.
Walker, best known for his role in the Fast and Furious franchise, died in a fiery car crash on Nov. 30. The actor was 40 years old.
Before his death, Walker had completed filming for a film entitled Hours. The suspenseful thriller was filmed in March of this year in New Orleans and is still set to be released on Dec. 13, despite Walker's death. He stars with Genesis Rodriguez in the film.
Hours takes place in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina. Walter plays Nolan, a man who faces the death of his wife and premature birth of his daughter as the storm hits.
Nolan must fight to keep his daughter alive. She must be kept on a respirator for 48 hours in an incubator at a hospital that has been flooded and left without power.
In a Dec. 7 article for Live Action News, writer Lauren Enriquez said that Hours offers a strong pro-life message.
"Walker's character defies all odds and gives completely of himself to the point of self-sacrifice so that his daughter can have a chance at staying alive and becoming healthy," she explained, praising the "incredibly life affirming role."
Peter Safran, the movie's executive producer, told the Hollywood Reporter that Walker "was incredibly proud of this project."
He recalled being at a press conference two weeks before the crash. "I remember sitting with (Walker) and how excited he was for people to see this movie."
"Hours embodies a message that was so important to him, which is that you have to do everything you can to keep friends and family safe," Safran explained.