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Review #441 of 365
Movie Review of The Reaping (2007) [R] 96 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $8.50
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 6 April 2007
Time: 10:25 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: 16 October 2007
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins ("24")
Screenplay by: Carey Hayes (House of Wax) and Chad Hayes (House of Wax) based on the story by Brian Rousso
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Hilary Swank (Freedom Writers) • David Morrissey (Basic Instinct 2) • Idris Elba (Daddy's Little Girls) • AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia) • Stephen Rea (V for Vendetta) • William Ragsdale (Big Momma's House 2)
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
It started off with some hope, staring Academy Award®-winning Hillary Swank and the underrated, understated Stephen Rea and set in Louisiana, of being this spring's surprise twisty thriller follow-up to 2005's The Skeleton Key. The idea behind The Reaping is that a former Christian missionary turned miracle debunker would get drawn into a bayou-enveloped town being tormented by the biblical 10 plagues. Unfortunately, the twists are baffling. I'm not sure a second viewing will help to unravel them. Unlike the elegant reveals in The Skeleton Key, there's nothing elegant about The Reaping only nagging questions that seem to conjure the need for a sequel, God forbid, to clear things up. The ending definitely suggests a sequel, but one would wonder by Hilary Swank agreed to do this film in the first place let alone sign on for a second. To be fair, the film does have some good things going for it. The premise is interesting. It is easy to get drawn into the religion vs. science debate that has raged in the USA since long before the Scopes Monkey trial.
A small town science teacher named Doug (David Morrissey) tracks down Professor Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank) and her sidekick, Ben (Idris Elba) and invites them to his little town of Haven, LA to examine a river that has turned blood red just after the body of the son, Brody (Mark Lynch), of a reclusive and shunned family was found floating in the bayou by his sister, Loren (AnnaSophia Robb). The townspeople have been running scared ever since certain that this was but the first in a long line of ten plagues God would unleash on their town. So, Katherine and Ben pack up their equipment and move to Doug's house in Haven to check things out. No sooner do they arrive and start investigating the river than two other 'plague-like' events happen including the heaves raining dead frogs. Certain this was all caused by a micro organism, Katherine does not begin to doubt the scientific explanations until she gets a frantic call from her long-time friend and former colleague, Father Costigan (Stephen Rae) who explains a mysterious cult that has long sought to conjure the birth of the Satan and the strange symbol he's seen burned into photos of her he's kept around from their days of working together in Africa where Katherine's husband and 12-year old daughter were murdered in sacrifice to God by locals unwilling to believe the outsiders presence was not the cause of the year-long drought.
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A small town science teacher named Doug (David Morrissey) tracks down Professor Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank) and her sidekick, Ben (Idris Elba) and invites them to his little town of Haven, LA to examine a river that has turned blood red just after the body of the son, Brody (Mark Lynch), of a reclusive and shunned family was found floating in the bayou by his sister, Loren (AnnaSophia Robb). The townspeople have been running scared ever since certain that this was but the first in a long line of ten plagues God would unleash on their town. So, Katherine and Ben pack up their equipment and move to Doug's house in Haven to check things out. No sooner do they arrive and start investigating the river than two other 'plague-like' events happen including the heaves raining dead frogs. Certain this was all caused by a micro organism, Katherine does not begin to doubt the scientific explanations until she gets a frantic call from her long-time friend and former colleague, Father Costigan (Stephen Rae) who explains a mysterious cult that has long sought to conjure the birth of the Satan and the strange symbol he's seen burned into photos of her he's kept around from their days of working together in Africa where Katherine's husband and 12-year old daughter were murdered in sacrifice to God by locals unwilling to believe the outsiders presence was not the cause of the year-long drought.
AnnaSophia Robb portrays the good or evil of Haven, LA(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
The residents of Haven grow restless as Katherine's explanation is long on coming to satisfy and quell their fears. When Katherine finally meets Loren (AnnaSophia Robb) she feels an instant bond as if it were pre-ordained that they meet. As she delves into the mystery, she becomes more and more entangled. She also has vivid nightmares where her past life in Africa folds and blends with her current investigation. She has no idea, however, what's in store for her next as she foolishly abandons common sense and single-handedly takes the investigation to a whole new level against her own best judgment and that of her partner.
"…some delightfully scary moments…too confusing with too many unanswered questions."
Well, if there's time, in the near future, I'll write a spoiler review and address plot holes and misdirection used to throw viewers off the trail as to what's really going on. The problem is that even with that, there are too many unanswered questions to make this an enjoyable film. Stephen Hopkins, using a script by Carey and Chad Hayes, sets up the story well, but finishes it off badly. The acting is satisfactory, a little stereotypical and lifeless at times, but otherwise fine. The special effects are quite good and daunting at times. The biggest problem with the film overall is that if offers no final or substantive answers to the central mystery and numerous nagging questions. Moreover, the final, pre-credit scene gives the impression there will need to be a sequel to tie things up. Overall, while The Reaping possesses some delightfully scary moments and spine chills and even elicited a few screams from the audience, it is not a satisfying film. It is just too confusing with too many unanswered questions. Were it not trying to be too clever or too mysterious and have made sense of these things at the end, it might have been as delicious as The Skeleton Key—a film too few people probably saw not realizing how good it was.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring The Reaping (2007)
Cast Members
Hilary Swank
• David Morrissey • Idris ElbaAnnaSophia Robb
• Stephen Rea • William RagsdaleDirector
Stephen Hopkins
Co-screenwriters
Carey Hayes
• Chad Hayes| CD Soundtrack | DVD | VHS |
| Related DVD |
The Reaping (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Hillary Swank and Stephen Rea in a scary new mystery film set, like 2005's wonderfully twisty, spooky, and surprising Skeleton Key, in the bayous of Louisiana, had the beginnings of what seemed like it might be a really good movie. Swank plays a former Christian missionary committed to bringing her religion to remote regions of Africa, set back in her faith when her husband and daughter are murdered by the local tribal elder who blames their presence for the year-long drought. Her new gig? Debunking miracles with scientific explanations. That goes well for her until a small town science teacher from the isolated town of Haven begs her to come investigate the recreation of the 10 Biblical plagues God sprung on the ancient Egyptians. Unfortunately, despite adequate acting and special effects, the story ends badly with too many unanswered questions and confusing revelations requiring a flowchart to unravel.
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