The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Mark Pellington

Writers (WGA):

John A. Keel (novel)
Richard Hatem (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

What do you see?

Plot:

A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.

Plot Keywords:

Mothman | Small Town | Psychic | Reporter | Car Accident

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Richard Gere	...	John Klein
David Eigenberg	...	Ed Fleischman
Bob Tracey	...	Cyrus Bills
Ron Emanuel	...	Washington Post Reporter
Debra Messing	...	Mary Klein
Tom Stoviak	...	Brian
Yvonne Erickson	...	Dr. McElroy
Scott Nunnally	...	Orderly
Harris Mackenzie	...	TV Journalist
Will Patton	...	Gordon Smallwood
Lucinda Jenney	...	Denise Smallwood
Laura Linney	...	Connie Mills
Tom Tully	...	Motel Manager
Zachary Mott	...	Otto (as Billy Mott)
Ann McDonough	...	Lucy Griffin

Also Known As:

Mothman (USA) (working title)
The Mothman (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for terror, some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Lakeshore Entertainment

Trivia:

The name of the expert on paranormal activity is Leek, the reverse of paranormal expert and author of the novel that the film was based on, Keel.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the scene of the Silver Bridge collapse, you can see close-ups of the car windshields and the people inside the cars. If you notice the inspection sticker in the windshield, it is a Pennsylvania inspection sticker instead of a West Virginia, where the movie is based.

Quotes:

[first lines]
John Klein: Jesus!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Adam & Eva (2003)

Soundtrack:

Lurid

Surprisingly entertaining

Starting off promisingly with X-Files creepy events (deaths and visions) this young persons horror movie has a suitably tense edge. Based on a myth last discussed in great detail in the 60s, this is a modernised version of the legend of the Mothman, a mysterious figure who comes to people to foretell disastrous events. There is an air of Saturday night channel 5 about this film, but don't let that discourage you as its in the upper echelons of b-movie fair.

Richard Gere is surprisingly entertaining as someone who essentially doesn't say much and just gets creeped-out. A lot. His character isn't that challenging for any actor, so there won't be any Oscar gongs headed his way for this. Laura Linney is excellent as the town sheriff, like someone straight out of Twin Peeks. The other characters are pretty much just there to move the plot along, rather than to catch your interest.

The first half hour or so is entertainingly tense, but then the film lulls for the plot in the middle. The ending is satisfyingly and beautifully tidy, with a wonderful action sequence that clears up the vast majority of the weirdness from earlier on. The tight ending, while pleasurable and final is also one of the reasons that the movie isn't better than it is. There is no sensation upon leaving of question or edge. No concerns about turning the next corner for fear of what might be there. This is perhaps why this movie feels like Channel 5, and perhaps why its a 12 not a 15. Essentially its a creepy movie and not an out and out horror.