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The Mothman Prophecies Director: Cast: Releasing: Nationally on 23 May, 2002 Rated: M
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Like moths to the flame
The film is based on John A Keele's novel of the same name and tells the story of the Mothman, a mysterious creature that has been seen around the world immediately before a disaster occurs. After her death John discovers that his wife has made countless scrawled drawing of such a creature; we as an audience had the benefit of sharing Mary's sighting of a huge shape flying towards the car that forced her to swerve off the road. A year after her death John is still grieving and during a late night car journey to follow a story he inexplicably breaks down in Point Pleasant, a small town many miles away from where he was headed. Knocking on the door of a local house he is disturbed to be confronted by a seeming mad man with a gun; although not as disturbed as he becomes when the man insists that John has appeared at the house at 2.30am for three nights in a row.
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The
Mothman Prophecies is a 12 certificate film in the U.K. [an
M here - Ed.]
and yet it is, without doubt, one of the most frightening films I have
seen in a long time. This is no full on gore fest - in fact we are not
subjected to any horrific sights. As I said, it is suitable for 12 year
olds. All of the horror is suggested - eerie voices, a jarring soundtrack,
brief glimpses in mirrors or in the corner of the screen. This is what
good horror should be. The Mothman Prophecies does not make the mistake
of so many contemporary so-called scary movies of actually showing us
what we are afraid of. Instead, it relies on character descriptions, flashes
of light and terrified expressions. We are forced to imagine the terror
inflicted on these people, imagine what is going to happen next. And that
is more frightening than anything that could be shown on screen. Richard Gere is absolutely superb as John Klein, a man losing his way after the death of his wife and yet absolutely convinced that he is not crazy. We the audience share in his experiences, and so we are desperate for him to reach some kind of conclusion. Laura Linney provides a perfect counterbalance as Officer Parker, a rational Scully-esque character who relies on common sense but is also aware of her own unexplainable visions. Will Patton is excellent as Gordon Smallwood, a simple and initially sceptical man plagued by things that he can't explain, and his wide eyed, uncomplicated persona make his increasingly bizarre behaviour creepy in the extreme. Director Mark Pellington has taken Keel's novel (which, admittedly, I have not read) and turned it into one of the most scary films of recent year. His understated direction makes us, the audience, do all of the work. He forces us to be scared, but leaves us to imagine what of. And this is why it is so effective - there is no solid monster for us to grab hold of and confront, we are left, like the characters in the movie, totally unsure of what we are dealing with. This is far more unsettling than a masked serial killer that we can run away from. The Mothman Prophecies is a fantastic film, one that those over used words 'edge of the seat stuff' really does apply to. I would urge you to go and see this movie - just be prepared to leave the light on when you get home..... Nicola Baughan Send us your feedback on this article or anything else in The Blurb |
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John
Klein has the perfect life. The star journalist at the Washington Post,
a gorgeous wife and about to buy a fantastic home, this appears to be
a normal, run of the mill American Dream movie. But within the first half
hour Mary Klein has crashed the car, knocked herself unconscious, discovered
she has a rare brain tumour and died. And so the Mothman Prophecies starts
as it means to go on. 
John
has been brought to Point Pleasant for a reason. The local police officer,
Connie Parker, reveals that several of the local inhabitants have reported
seeing a inhuman moth like man, and she herself is having bizarre dreams.
Convinced that there is a link between these sightings and the death of
his wife, John sets out to discover just what it all means. He forms an
unlikely friendship with the man who threatened him, Gordon Smallwood,
who is experiences intense visions and receives vivid prophecies from
the mothman. John soon realises that the townspeople of Point Pleasant
are being visited for a reason, but will he manage to convince everyone
else that he is not crazy before it is too late? >>>
