The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

A satisfying film

I wouldn't categorize this as a horror/thriller or anything of the sort. It's a different type of movie and it's hard to really place it anywhere. It has a dramatic plot with an eerie supernatural element. Its more of a mystery. A pretty decent one at that. Supposedly based off some factual event, the film does a good job of keeping us in suspense and really keeps us guessing. If there really is something called the Mothman, then I really would not want anything to do with that.

The acting is quite fine, the score effective. It is nothing super extrodianary, but it does feel different than many other films in this genre, which is again, hard to really place. Never boring, it will keep your attention, but after it's all said and done, it is probably mostly forgettable. August 5, 2008

Don't bother with the movie; read the book!

This movie seems like a purposeful mangling of the Mothman story. The book is fascinating and would have made an excellent movie. It's too bad they didn't put the story in the movie, it could have been great. They should have set it in the time period when it really happened and not made it such a vague concept. It also had nothing to do with the investigator's wife; I don't even remember him mentioning a wife in the book. I was so disappointed in this movie. The book is great though! July 6, 2008

THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES - An unusually fine horror film

THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES was an outstanding five star horror film starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Debra Messing. This film was directed by Mark Pellington, edited by Brian Berdan and filmed under the direction of Fred Murphy. I mention these names because of the wonderful visual effects, great camera work and especially fine film editing which assisted the cast to relate the story. Last, but not least, the musical score is as original as it is strange and beautiful.

This film had outstanding acting, an absolutely great script and a well thought out plot. It was meticulously filmed, staged and edited which did not overwhelm the performance. Although it was not critically acclaimed, it was well received by fans and is one of the most visually expressive films I have ever watched.

While scarcely a documentary it is based on the collapse of the Point Pleasant Bridge. The plot involves a Washington Post reporter (Richard Gere playing John Klein) who is deeply in love with his new bride, her tragic and mystifying death and his exposure to dark forces that result when he is driven to leave town in despair.

One night while in a fit of depression he is drawn to Point Pleasant Virginia where several odd sightings of strange lights in the sky, and an inexplicable butterfly or moth like shape (Mothman) have been reported by a small but steadily growing number of people. More troubling is the fact that these folks are good townspeople, solid citizens and even local police, making it difficult to brush off reports as imagined. When this entity begins to make verbal communication it starts by saying "Be not afraid," and then goes on to make tragic predictions. Its last words are often "I will see you in time".

After being first drawn into this situation, Richards Gere's car gives out in the middle of a country road due to an electrical problem, conjuring up thoughts of X-Files UFO sightings, angelic or possibly demonic visitations. Once settled at a local motel he is bothered by several strange nocturnal phone calls, wrong numbers, un-requested wake up calls and ultimately hears via phone the voice of the unknown creature, Indrid Cold.

The reporter contacts a writer and expert on the subject who he learns was once a tenured professor of physics from Cornell. Alexander Leek describes his encounters with the Mothman starting with his receiving predicted disasters, trying to communicate warnings with the authorities and people at risk, being investigated, almost arrested, divorced, and estranged from his family. He last pleads with John Klein to back away from the situation. Mr. Leek made one last appeal saying "Do you know what four years in a psychiatric hospital can do to you? The real issue becomes which is more important, having proof or being alive?"

When asked on the phone by John Klein what the creature looks like it replies "It depends on who is looking". After the call the reporter brings a recording of the strange voice to a voice print analyst who determines that it was not produced by a human larynx as it occupies too a narrow a band of frequency close to around 2000 Hz.

After Indrid Cold convinces the reporter of his otherworldly nature he goes on to mysteriously predict the collapse of the Point Pleasant Bridge (something John Klein must put together for himself). Just when I was getting ready for the film to disappoint, the destruction of the bridge is convincingly presented in parallel with the telling of the remainder of the very mysterious plot.

The bridge collapse was I believe the result of skillful model and CGI work, and was exceptionally credible looking. Real world slow motion effects which amazed me included: reflected waves traveling along support cables when they were under tension and when relaxed, the flexing, yielding and rupture of ductile bridge structure, the realistic powdering and fragmenting of brittle materials (probably model work), falling massive segments of the bridge and submerged bridge structures and vehicles. In addition to being very realistic it was very artistically done, including the final scenes of vehicles under bridge debris on the river bottom with headlights still on, producing a strange otherworldly visual effect of blue light beams in the water.

In short, after the movie had delivered on every level it went on to provide during the last five minutes some of the most thrilling and realistic special effects I have ever watched. Many of the screen effects provide fleeting glimpses of the mothman, snatches of a strange face in a door mirror, or the fine detail of the morphing shape of a moth reflected in the pupil of an eye. These hand crafted images hold up during slow scan and were often too subtle to be noticed on the first viewing.

If we can believe the reports, Mothman sightings have been taking place all over the world in areas of great tragedy and loss of life, including Chernobyl. While none of these sightings have been accompanied by verbal communication, the reports alone were sufficient for many of us to suspend disbelief and allow the story to take us along with it. This great movie is a must see for all fans of the paranormal who appreciate a fine film. I place this movie on a par with the production of JACOB'S LADDER and THE HAUNTING.
June 8, 2008

Very pleased!!!

My mother is from a small town close to Point Pleasant, WV which is a point of interest in this movie. She had seen the movie before but, never got the name of it. When she finially discovered the name, I got on line and within a few days she had this movie and is very pleased with it. Thank You, R. Head Chatsworth, GA May 23, 2008

Good cast; confusing story

Richard Gere is excellent and Laura Linney is even better in this otherwise forgettable film about an allegedly real (?) or not (?) supernatural creature, the Mothman, who appeared in a West Virginia town, Point Pleasant and predicted, among other things, the sinking of a bridge over the Ohio River in 1967. I knew nothing about the actual event, nor the folklore surrounding the Mothman when I picked up this DVD. I read only that the story was based on true events.

Since I am not a horror film fan at all--I stay away from them--my interest in this, besides the good cast, was that fact that this "supernatural" event was at least somewhat true. I do believe in some supernatural phenomenon so I had an interest in seeing exactly what did happen here. The story, though, isn't completely factual, so the viewer is left wondering what actually happened and what didn't. It's so bizarre. One wonders who was making the phone calls, who was disguising their voices, the time warp, the mysterious re-appearance of the dead wife...etc. etc. After a while my mind got tired of trying to figure it out and I focused on the possible romance of Gere and Linney. There, too, I was disappointed, as nothing conclusive is shown.

I guess if you really really love horror films and you don't care if anything is real, then you might like this film. For me, it is mostly a waste of excellent actors. March 17, 2008

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