The Seventh Sign (1988)

Abby Quinn is eagerly awaiting childbirth but is haunted by dreams where she suffers a miscarriage. When she decides to rent a room to a mysterious stranger, she realizes a chain of events that will unleash the end of humanity.

Director:

Carl Schultz

Writers:

Clifford Green (as George Kaplan), Ellen Green (as W.W. Wicket)

Stars:

Demi Moore, Michael Biehn, Jürgen Prochnow

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Demi Moore	...	Abby Quinn
Michael Biehn	...	Russell Quinn
Jürgen Prochnow	...	David Bannon
Peter Friedman	...	Father Lucci
Manny Jacobs	...	Avi
John Taylor	...	Jimmy Szaragosa
Lee Garlington	...	Dr. Margaret Inness
Akosua Busia	...	Penny Washburn
Harry Basil	...	Kids Korner Salesman
Arnold Johnson	...	Janitor
John Walcutt	...	Novitiate
Michael Laskin	...	Israeli Colonel
Hugo Stanger	...	Old Priest
Patricia Allison	...	Administrator
Ian Buchanan	...	Mr. Huberty

Storyline

In Haiti, the sea and its lifeforms die; in the Middle East, a town is frozen. These are signs of the Apocalypse and the Vatican is investigating, but Father Lucci advises that these omens are a hoax or technologically explained. In California, housewife Abby Quinn is pregnant and the delivery is scheduled on February 29, a leap year. Her husband, lawyer Russell Quinn, is defending a weird case of teenager Jimmy Szaragosa, who killed his parents, saying that it was because he was following the Word of God. Meanwhile, Abby rents a garage apartment to the mysterious David Bannon. The hopeless Abby has strange nightmares and soon finds that around the world there are signs of the Apocalypse in accordance with the Book of Revelation. She learns also that David Bannon is Jesus and has returned; Father Lucci is the Pilate's porter Cartaphilus who was doomed to wander the Earth for eternity; and she is a woman who tried to help Jesus. Further, she is the Seventh Sign and the Apocalypse will ...

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Plot Keywords:

apocalypse | revelation | baby | reference to god | supernatural power | 

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Taglines:

The seals have been broken. The prophecies have begun. Now only one woman can halt the end of our world.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

1 April 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Boarder

Filming Locations:

Dominica

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,768,707, 1 April 1988, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$18,875,011

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Interscope Communications, ML Delphi Premier Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is often incorrectly stated that Demi Moore was pregnant in real life during the filming of this movie. Production wrapped in spring 1987 and Rumer Willis wasn't conceived until the fall of 1987.

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Goofs

At the end the earthquake starts in the execution room of the prison. It's also seen in the hospital, at least a half hour later. Earthquakes rarely last more than a minute. However, it's not clear this was a continuous quake; the hospital quake could have been an aftershock. In addition, it *is* the end of the world; the seismic phenomena could have been something previously unknown.

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Quotes

David Bannon: Remember it all, write it down, tell it; so people will use the chance she has given them.

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Connections

References All the President's Men (1976)

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Soundtracks

Battle Hymn of the Republic
(uncredited)
Music by William Steffe
Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe

User Reviews

Supernatural mystery with an excellent performance by Demi Moore.

The picture concerns a pregnant woman (an actually pregnant Demi Moore) living with his husband (Michael Biehn). She realizes the strange boarder (Jurgen Prochnow) at her home and the fantastic goings-on happening are united to the ¨Book of Revelation¨ and some prophecies connected to her unborn son . She gets drawn into a cobweb of mysterious events . Nowadays, she only can stop the destruction of the world like is said in ¨The commentaries of the Apocalypse of Saint John¨. Around the world emerges various signs from Biblic omens . A Vatican emissary priest (Peter Friedman)is dedicated to investigate the bizarre deeds .

It's a spiritual triller skillfully narrated with bit action but quite entertaining . Strikingly designed with little exterior scenarios , being exception the freeze village and African outdoors . This polished film provides chills , supernatural events and thrills in lively mystery . It's rich and dark though sometimes confusing . The film belongs to supernatural prophecy sub-genre (along with : ¨The omen¨, ¨The Body¨ , among others) . Good main and support cast , even Ellen DeGeneres filmed a small role, but it was cut from the film before release . Esoteric music and excessive use of synthesizer by composer Jack Nitzsche (Starman , Jewel of Nile, Razor's edge). Colorful cinematography full of shades and lights by excellent Spanish cameraman Juan Ruiz Anchia (Close range, House of game , River runs black) . The motion picture was well directed by Carl Schulz (usual television picture director) . It's one of the most unusual supernatural movie from the 80s and certainly one of the most unsettling .