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THE
MOTHMAN PROPHECIES review by Joseph B. Mauceri
REVIEW: The power of THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES as a film can be directly attributed to the unique cinematic narrative style of director Mark Pellington. Over the years, Mark has focused on combing words and images to create highly engaging and surreal experiences for the viewer. The director creates secure and familiar situations that allow an audience to invest an emotional interest. He then slowly begins to manipulate that reality, reminding us just how fragile it is. In 1992 he created "The Memory Palace," a five-screen live-action evocation of the cyberspace, in conjunction with sci-fi guru William Gibson for the World Expo in Spain. In 1999 he unleashed his extremely dark political thriller "Arlington Road." THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES offers Mark a unique combination of urban myth and a strong character study to show audiences the full extent of his cinematic prowess. The film takes a few liberties with the novel in order to make the story more viewer friendly. The novel is slightly darker, and I think Pellington makes a wise call given the response to the rather bleak outlook he presented in "Arlington Road." The director is skilled at obtaining powerful performances from his cast that forcefully drives the suspense and tension as well as the best visual effects. He trims down the characters so that the film focuses on the journey of John Klein (Gere). The plot is conservative in its presentation of Klein's life prior to the tragic events, and as such leaves little for actress Debra Messing, who plays his wife, to offer us in the way of a performance. Laura Linney, an exceptional actress, is Gere's female counterpart, delivering a performance that allows this secondary character to standout in the tale. Likewise, Will Patton, a talented character actor, possesses that everyman ability of a Jimmy Stewart that permits the viewer to sympathize for his character's descent into madness. Like any good monster movie, Pellington keeps the Mothman shrouded in shadows. It is that thing just lurking beyond our perception that is the most frightening of all. Several times we are offered quick glimpses of him, but any hard representation is kept to the drawings of those who have actually witnessed him. There are times when the director employees all the tools of his trade to create a sense of tension that makes the viewer aware of this entity's presence. What exactly is the Mothman? Pellington offers several explanations: Alien, Time Traveler, Angel, Demon, etc., but draws no firm conclusions. We are empowered with the ability to draw our own conclusions based on the information presented. Pellington's work in the music video industry has given him a keen since of images and score. As powerful as any of the performances is the score by tomandandy. It is a musical composition that skillfully walks the line between traditional and techno. There is no real Mothman theme, but there are key elements to the composition that allows the viewer to identify the music with the character, and offers the composers greater freedom in combining elements then a traditional score. In essences it becomes this additional organic element of the film that intensifies the suspense. Since M. Night Shyamalan gave use the character driven genre thriller "The Sixth Sense" in 1999, some wise fillmakers have picked up on the key element of a successful genre film -- characters over effects. In 2001, films like "Session 9," "The Devil's Backbone" and most recently "Brotherhood of the Wolf" have continued to prove that universal truth. Pellington's cinematic interpretation of THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES offers audiences a proficiently crafted urban thriller that loosens the underpinnings of reality, without spiraling it into the realm of the unbelievable. More then your basic scary movie, THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES brings the terror home. Pellington delivers a film that earns him a place next to such suspense legends as Hitchcock and Craven. OFFICIAL
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SYNOPSIS:
Based on the true events in Point Pleasant, Virginia, as chronicled
in John Keel's book of the same title, The Mothman Prophecies, examines
a series of inexplicable occurrences through the eyes - and mind
- of John Klien (Richard Gere). Klien is driven to extremes to investigate
the mysterious circumstances surrounding his wife's death - and
how they might be connected to the strange phenomena in a town four
hundred miles away. A respected Washington Post journalist at the
top of his game, while removing his wife's possessions from the
hospital, he remembers her last words: "You didn't see it,
did you?" Then he discovers a sketchpad covered with odd drawings,
variations of the same eerie apparition. A couple of years later,
while driving one night from Washington to Richmond for an assignment,
he loses his way and ends up on a deserted country highway. His
car inexplicably breaks down. The owner of a nearby farmhouse threatens
Klien and tells him he has been waiting for him. Sgt. Connie Parker
(Laura Linney) arrives on the scene and divulges to him that the
entire county is on the edge due to a recent series of odd disturbances.
John finally realizes that he is in Point Pleasant, West Virginia
-- four hundred miles from where he thought he was. How? His curiosity
piqued, John decides to stay in Point Pleasant to explore the reports
of unexplained phenomena. He soon realizes that they may all be
related, not just to each other, but also to the strange sketches
Mary had been obsessively drawing just hours before her death. But
what exactly is the connection? The events defy simple explanation
and, more disturbing, seem to predict impending disasters. The more
he unravels, the more John begins to question his own sanity. Are
there unknown forces behind the strange sightings? What terrible
thing awaits the people of Point Pleasant? For John, it's a race
against time to figure it out, and try to prevent something terrible
from happening.