The Last Sin Eater (2007)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Michael Landon Jr.

Writers (WGA):

Brian Bird (screenplay) &
Michael Landon Jr. (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A little girl's quest for redemption uncovers a dark secret... and the truth shall set her free.

Plot:

In seeking her own redemption from the one man of whom she is most afraid, 10-year-old Cadi Forbes discovers a secret sin haunting her community of Welsh immigrants in 1850s Appalachia.

Plot Keywords:

1850s | Sin Eater | Dark Secret | Christian Film | Skeleton

Cast

Louise Fletcher	...	Miz Elda
Henry Thomas	...	Man of God
Liana Liberato	...	Cadi Forbes
Soren Fulton	...	Fagan Kai
A.J. Buckley	...	Angor Forbes
Stewart Finlay-McLennan	...	Brogan Kai
Peter Wingfield	...	The Sin Eater
Elizabeth Lackey	...	Fia Forbes
Thea Rose	...	Lilybet
Kim Myers	...	Iona Kai
Gabrielle Fitzpatrick	...	Bletsung McLeod
Valerie Wildman	...	Gervase O'Dara
Anne Cullimore Decker	...	Granny Forbes
Michael Flynn	...	Laochailand Kai
Molly Jepson	...	Elen Forbes

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, and some intense sequences of violence.

Runtime:

USA:117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Utah, USA

Company:

Believe Pictures

Soundtrack:

The Last Sin Eater

Review

I saw a pre-screening for "The Last Sin Easter" land it is a wonderful movie. The location was beautiful and the acting was outstanding – especially by Liana Liberato as well as Soren Fulton. Liana was amazing as Cadi Forbes. Other standouts: Stewart Finlay-McLennan was excellent and brought a lot of energy and ferocity to his role as the tyrant of the cove, Brogan Kai, and Henry Thomas was very good as the kind, sympathetic Man of God. Actually, all the actors did a very nice job. Plus, Brian Bird did a phenomenal job of orchestrating the essential, intricate plot and back-stories of the book into a movie script. The directing was good as well.

A book character, Cadi's brother, was left out completely and the emphasis on the other "bad" Kai boys was also left out too but it is understandable that it was necessary in order to give more time to the main characters and their actions. The identity of Miz Elda (Louise Fletcher) and her relationship to Iona Kai and her friendship with Granny Forbes was not brought to light either but it wasn't necessary to understand that each child, Cadi and Fagan, had a trusting friendship with this woman. Gervase O'Dara's character was not as prominent as in the book, but, again a necessary omission for the time constraints of a movie. Therefore, I feel those out there who, like me, read and enjoyed the book, will not be disappointed at all (as sometimes happens with books being made into movies) because, as stated before, Brian Bird did an outstanding job of conveying the most important aspects and scenes of the book into the movie script. I highly recommend this movie, as it is certainly complementary of the book.

Not to give away the ending but things were only very slightly changed from what I recall of the book and not quite as harsh. I liked the ending a lot but would have enjoyed a little longer monologue from Cadi telling us more of what happened to the cove and some of the people, but it still tied things together very nicely and was beautifully done.

Although the movie does not leave you cheering, laughing or weeping it does have you leaving the theater very hopeful and satisfied as well as a bit contemplative. Jesus is given credit for being the true, original sin eater yet, for non-Christians, the movie is not preachy. It is a lovely movie and would be a good addition, when it comes out on DVD, to anyone's home library. Congratulations to all those who were involved from the grippers, make-up artists, drivers, and the other crewmembers to the cast, writers, producers and director.