“Sheepdog” tells the story of a veteran’s journey to reclaim purpose after military service, exploring themes of healing, redemption, and post-traumatic growth, while also confronting the harsh realities of veteran suicide and homelessness. The film releases to theaters nationwide on Jan. 16, 2025. (Sheepdog)

Filmmaker Steven Grayhm’s journey began in 2011, when his car broke down on the side of the road on his way to Los Angeles.

When a local tow truck company came to his aid, the driver — a military veteran — picked up Grayhm and his car and hauled them to Los Angeles. During the three-hour ride, the veteran shared personal stories about his family struggles and the medications tied to multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I haven’t told my wife this. I haven’t even spoken to a therapist.”

Those words, spoken by the veteran, left a lasting impression and started Grayhm on a nationwide road trip to find other veterans with similar experiences.

“It was easier for that veteran to speak to a complete stranger and share his story than it was to his own family or his community,” Grayhm said.

Over the next 12 years, Grayhm spoke with veterans and their families across the country, gathering the stories that would become the foundation for his film, “Sheepdog,” which releases to theaters nationwide on Friday.

“Sheepdog” tells the story of a veteran’s journey to reclaim purpose years after his military service. It explores healing, redemption and growth, and it confronts the harsh realities of veteran suicide and homelessness.

The film opens with a quote by Army Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, “I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf,” that sets the tone by emphasizing duty, loyalty and the instinct to protect others by facing danger.

“Sheepdog is not a post-traumatic stress movie; it’s a post-traumatic growth movie,” said Grayhm, who wrote, directed and starred in the film. “I thought it was really important to take the audience to those dark places to show what’s at stake, and to fully understand the journey (post-service).”

The film also stars Dominic Fumusa, Virginia Madsen, Vondie Curtis Hall, Lilli Cooper and Matt Dallas, who portray characters inspired by real veterans and their stories.

SAG® award nominee Dominic Fumusa in “Sheepdog,” a film about a veteran’s journey to reclaim purpose after military service, exploring themes of healing, redemption, and post-traumatic growth, while also confronting the harsh realities of veteran suicide and homelessness. The film releases to theaters nationwide on Jan. 16, 2025. (Sheepdog)

“If we could just touch one veteran, save one veteran’s life with this movie, it would be a success,” Fumusa said.

But “Sheepdog” doesn’t focus only on veterans — it also shines a light on the medical professionals and therapists who dedicate their lives to helping them heal.

Grayhm spent months doing research at VA medical centers across the country, observing therapy sessions, PTSD orientation classes and treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) — all of which are depicted in the film.

Director Steven Grayhm in “Sheepdog,” a film about a veteran’s journey to reclaim purpose after military service, exploring themes of healing, redemption, and post-traumatic growth, while also confronting the harsh realities of veteran suicide and homelessness. The film releases to theaters nationwide on Jan. 16, 2025. (Sheepdog)

“There’s a myriad of different therapies and techniques, and I just wanted to be very responsible with what I put into the film based on what I saw and its efficacy that I know was proven to help,” Grayhm said.

The film also highlights the dedication of a VA worker, inspired by a real person Grayhm met during his research.

“Those (VA workers) are the unsung heroes that are going to work every day just trying to make a difference,” Grayhm said. “There are people that show up every day, not getting rich doing it, that truly want to make a difference, and are.”

Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen hugs Director Steven Grayhm in “Sheepdog,” a film about a veteran’s journey to reclaim purpose after military service, exploring themes of healing, redemption, and post-traumatic growth, while also confronting the harsh realities of veteran suicide and homelessness. The film releases to theaters nationwide on Jan. 16, 2025. (Sheepdog)

“Sheepdog” also explores the experiences of families and spouses, highlighting how they navigate the emotional challenges of supporting loved ones coping with PTSD, trauma and reintegration into civilian life.

“We get frustrated with those we love because we know they need help,” Fumusa said. “You can only do so much. For so many people, the challenge is figuring out how to address what our veterans have gone through, and how we can lead each other to a place of healing and support.”

Grayhm hopes the film inspires reconnection and understanding for veterans and their families. For civilians, he sees it as a call to action — to take the time to have a real conversation with a veteran, check in on how they’re doing and invite them to share their experiences.

“We hope the message of the film transcends and reaches all the people that need it most,” Grayhm said.