By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/23/25 – Guns & Moses, the audacious new feature film tackling anti-Semitism, gun violence, and spiritual resilience, is gearing up for a national release on July 18, and critics are already calling it “a rare breed—thrilling, funny, and unflinchingly relevant.”
Veteran actor Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains, The West Wing) leads the charge as Rabbi Mo Zaltzman, a reluctant hero whose peaceful worldview is shaken after a hate-fueled attack rocks his desert-town synagogue. The film directed by Salvador Litvak, blends the grit of a modern noir with the soul of a morality tale—and it couldn’t have arrived at a more urgent moment.
In a recent interview with me, the editor, of The Hollywood Times and Aspiring Magazine, Feuerstein described Guns & Moses as “a combination between Chinatown and The Chosen”, adding: “I’ve never gotten to be an action hero before. I’ve done comedy, I’ve done drama—but this film let me do both, plus choreographed stunts and some serious spiritual exploration.”
Click below to see our exclusive interview:
Feuerstein, speaking from Long Island’s Bridgehampton Library, reflected on the real-world incident that inspired the film—a 2019 shooting in Poway, California. “It all started with one man who stood up against hate,” he explained. “The film asks: what does it look like when someone stands for truth in a world full of noise and fear?”
Guns & Moses defies traditional genre expectations. It is, at once, a tightly plotted action film and a poignant social satire. The story follows Moses Levy, a former scholar-turned-rabbi forced to reckon with the limits of pacifism in the face of rising violence. As anti-Semitic threats escalate in his community, Levy steps into the uncomfortable role of protector—of his family, his congregation, and the truth.
THT’s review praises Feuerstein’s layered performance as “one of the most nuanced and compelling of his career,” noting how the film captures “the transformation not just of a man, but of a mindset.” She writes:
“In a cinematic landscape saturated with hollow blockbusters, Guns & Moses fires off something refreshingly different: a smart, stylish, and unapologetically bold film that refuses to shy away from real-world issues.”
Addressing themes of faith, identity, and resistance, Guns & Moses does not shy away from the political. But as Feuerstein shared, it also offers a surprising amount of warmth, wit, and even hope. “There’s a line in the movie I love,” he told Milano. “‘In a place where there is no man, strive to be the man.’ In a world of siloed echo chambers, my character is someone willing to ask the hard questions.”
In one scene, Rabbi Moe confronts a neo-Nazi who shows up outside his synagogue blaring hate music. Rather than retaliate with force, he invites the man inside, where a Holocaust survivor (played by Christopher Lloyd) shares his story. “You see his face change,” Feuerstein said. “That’s the power of truth.”
Guns & Moses does not glorify violence—it interrogates it. The film dives deep into the moral complexity of defense and the emotional toll of choosing to fight back. Feuerstein credits director Sal Litvak with grounding the action in authenticity. “Sal’s part of a volunteer security group in L.A.,” Feuerstein noted. “He taught me how to shoot, but also why we need to know how to protect ourselves in this world.”
Despite the intensity of the subject matter, Guns & Moses is also unexpectedly funny, with sharp dialogue and moments of tenderness that elevate the film beyond typical vigilante fare.
As for what’s ahead, Feuerstein is keeping busy. “After Guns & Moses, I’m in Nemesis on Netflix from Courtney Kemp (of Power), and I have several projects in development—some socially conscious, some just really fun stories.”
Fans can follow his journey at @MarkFeuerstein on Instagram and catch Guns & Moses in theaters nationwide starting July 18.
Final Verdict
“Guns & Moses delivers laughs, suspense, and emotional resonance in equal measure. It’s not just a movie—it’s a statement.”
★★★★½ (4.5/5)
