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

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

Final film of Richard Devon.

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Goofs

After Jimmy (a.k.a. "The Last Martyr") dies, it can be seen through the windows on the inside of the prison that the morning daylight turned to darkness because the Sixth Seal was broken. But when they are wheeling Abby from the door to the prison to the ambulance, you can clearly see daylight when it is supposed to be dark out. Then on the inside of the ambulance, it is dark again.

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Quotes

[while watching the news]
David Bannon: So much misery, man against man. They kill each other. They have no faith. I used to think the world would change. But it hasn't.
Abby: No, I guess it hasn't.

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Connections

References Day for Night (1973)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Do not Pay Attention to the Flaws and You Will Enjoy the Film

In Haiti, the sea and the life-form die; in the Middle East, a town is frozen. These are signs of the Apocalypse and the Vatican is investigating, but Father Lucci (Peter Friedman) advises that these omens are hoax or technologically explained. In California, the housewife Abby Quinn (Demi Moore) is pregnant and the delivery is scheduled to February, 29 in a leap year. Her husband, the lawyer Russell Quinn (Michael Biehn), is defending a weird case of the teenager Jimmy Szaragosa (John Taylor) that killed his parents telling that he was following the Word of God. Meanwhile Abby rents a garage apartment to the mysterious David Bannon (Jürgen Prochnow). The hopeless Abby has strange nightmares and soon she 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 that has returned; Father Lucci is the Pilate's porter Cartaphilus that was doomed to wander on Earth for the eternity; and she is a woman that tried to help Jesus. Further, she is the Seventh Sign and the Apocalypse will happen when her baby is stillborn. What can she do to save her unborn son and mankind?

"The Seventh Sign" is an original film about Apocalypse, with a complex story. There are flaws that should have been explained, such as Abby let a stranger in her house when she was alone, but it seems that she has already discussed with him the rental. Invinting him for dinner is part of etiquette and politeness with the tenant. Curiosity killed the cat and explains her behavior snooping around his apartment. There are many other criticism to this film, but if the viewer do not pay attention to the flaws, he or she will find an enjoyable supernatural movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Sétima Profecia" ("The Seventh Prophecy")