The Reaping (2007)

Possibly the 11th Biblical Plague

Professor Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank) was once an ordained minister, but has since relinquished her faith and title after the tragic death of her husband and daughter. (Before going further, it needs to be said that Swank is actually very pretty in this movie, the most feminine of her career, and the only real reason to watch The Reaping) With anger and despair filling her heart, Winter spends her free time disproving religious-themed miracles.

Next up is a small Louisiana bayou town and a collection of Biblical plagues, as the fish die in a river that looks like a giant batch of Koolaid, which eventually leads to the demise of the WB frog, and flies that are apparently reincarnated ninjas (you'll understand if you see it). The anxiety of small-minded townfolk and a need to blame someone leads the yokels - especially a cartoonish mayor who looks like Colonel Sanders' morbidly obese cousin - to blame a young, swamp-dwelling girl based upon nothing more than the hearsay of a local busybody.

Anyway, it's up to Winter to disprove the plagues and make rational decisions - even though it's clear that Swank didn't make one when she signed on for his movie. Eventually she has to cross the line between the possibilities of a disapproving God wreaking havoc, and a mischevious Devil tricking local idiots who no doubt follow the same philosophical principles as The Waterboy's momma. All of this is mashed together with misfitting subplots of cults and child sacrifice and convoluted flashbacks, not to mention a pointless secondary minister who I hoped from the beginning would incur the nasty boils plague.

With a boring, hokey ending, and a collection of uninteresting characters, the "surprise" plot-twist was spoiled. When God eventually reigns down his judgement, I sincerely doubt it will be this boring. Believable science behind the plagues is supported by a mesmerizing DVD-extra that explains how the events could have occurred, but there isn't really much in the actual movie's fear or horror department. Unfortunately, it's completely stereotypical - the disbeliever's faith-restored moment takes place, the black sidekick dies before the end, and there is a painfully unnecessary set up for a sequel. Otherwise it's single-viewing, derivitave movie that should have been sacrificed at the terrible script alter. July 7, 2008

Good Horror - Bad Ending

Yet another 4 star film that lost a star in the last minutes of the film. This one lost it in the last 15 seconds. Overall, still quality horror in the vein of Exorcist, The Omen, etc. Effects ranged from blah to excellent. I guess they spent the extra cash on the lightning, and couldn't afford a real-looking dead bull...oh well. This is still worth a watch. A rent, nothing more. June 19, 2008

Could have been better...

Swank is such a talented actress, and her costar Idris Elba is equally talented. But their talent is wasted in this film. The script is pretty standard stuff, though the ending did have a decent twist. (however, if you pay attention you will catch on well before the climax). The scenery is beautiful, marred only by the plagues infesting this small town.

AnnaSophia Robb, who play little Loren McConnell, is a lovely child, with very captivating eyes, but again she is wasted here.

The movie isn't bad, but it falls prey to cliche's of this genre'. And that is another problem...it doesn't really fit into a specific mold. It isn't horror, not really suspense, not quite mystery....so it had the potential to be great, but it was one cliche after another.

Too bad, because this isn't a type of movie we see often, and it was full of talented actors, but if you have a slow, rainy two hours you could certainly do worse. May 25, 2008

Movies

This movie had a good plot that led you to believe many different things were going to happen in the end. Hillary Swank is a great actress, but I don't think she delivered in this movie. The end was a total FLOP, ruined the whole movie, which could have been a great movie. May 20, 2008

About the river of red

Well, it has been said in the other reviews. Yes, it's deriviative, little pieces sliced from The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby, The Prophecy, et. al. But what movie in this vein (sorry, couldn't resist) isn't derivative? Is there anything new under the sun? On the whole, I found it entertaining, which is all I would ask for from such a genre. One little gripe: don't these "scientists" watch CSI? They should have been able to determine whether or not the river was blood just like Grissom would! May 13, 2008

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