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IMDbPro

The Mothman Prophecies

  • 20022002
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
82K
YOUR RATING
The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorMystery
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
82K
YOUR RATING
    • Mark Pellington
    • Richard Hatem(screenplay)
    • John A. Keel(novel)
  • Stars
    • Richard Gere
    • Laura Linney
    • David Eigenberg
    • Mark Pellington
    • Richard Hatem(screenplay)
    • John A. Keel(novel)
  • Stars
    • Richard Gere
    • Laura Linney
    • David Eigenberg
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 519User reviews
    • 170Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    The Mothman Prophecies
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch The Mothman Prophecies

    Photos126

    Richard Gere in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Richard Gere and Dan Callahan in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Laura Linney in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Debra Messing in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Laura Linney in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Richard Gere in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Laura Linney, Will Patton, and Lucinda Jenney in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Dan Callahan in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Richard Gere in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Richard Gere and Alan Bates in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Richard Gere in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
    Richard Gere in The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Gere
    Richard Gere
    • John Klein
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Connie Mills
    David Eigenberg
    David Eigenberg
    • Ed Fleischman
    Bob Tracey
    • Cyrus Bills
    Ron Emanuel
    • Washington Post Reporter
    Debra Messing
    Debra Messing
    • Mary Klein
    Tom Stoviak
    Tom Stoviak
    • Real Estate Agent
    Yvonne Erickson
    Yvonne Erickson
    • Dr. McElroy
    Scott Nunnally
    • Orderly
    Harris Mackenzie
    • TV Journalist
    Will Patton
    Will Patton
    • Gordon Smallwood
    Lucinda Jenney
    Lucinda Jenney
    • Denise Smallwood
    Tom Tully
    Tom Tully
    • Motel Manager
    Zachary Mott
    • Otto
    • (as Billy Mott)
    Ann McDonough
    • Lucy Griffin
    Shane Callahan
    Shane Callahan
    • Nat Griffin
    Nesbitt Blaisdell
    Nesbitt Blaisdell
    • Chief Josh Jarrett
    Dan Callahan
    Dan Callahan
    • C.J.
      • Mark Pellington
      • Richard Hatem(screenplay)
      • John A. Keel(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie is based on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
    • Goofs
      When John Klein rips the telephone from the wall and throws it, we hear the sound of a telephone with a bell hitting the floor, yet the phone is a modern digital cordless phone.
    • Quotes

      John Klein: I think we can assume that these entities are more advanced than us. Why don't they just come right out and tell us what's on their minds?

      Alexander Leek: You're more advanced than a cockroach, have you ever tried explaining yourself to one of them?

    • Crazy credits
      Soundtrack listing, song Half Light, which plays over the credits. The movie credits for this song say, "Additional Lyrics by Indrid Cold," the Mothman character of the movie. Toward the end of the song, there is a muffled, whispering voice, similar to one of the prophetic voice heard at various times in the movie. The voice continues just past the end of the song and to the end of the credits, but the words are indiscernible.
    • Connections
      Featured in Search for the Mothman (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Jingle Bell Swing
      Arranged by Ib Glindemann

      Courtesy of Carbert Special Accounts/APM

    User reviews519

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Pretty Mothman
    John Klein (Richard Gere), a Washington Post reporter, finds himself somehow drawn to a small town in West Virginia. In fact, his car dies, along with his cell phone and watch. He knocks on a nearby house to call for help, and the man who answers the door attacks him, saying Klein's been around three days in a row. But has he?

    Two years earlier, John's wife died from injuries sustained in a car wreck, and before she died, in an apparent delirium, she had been etching weird drawings. Could her drawings have some connection with this town?

    Based on true events, The Mothman Prophecies follows John through his search for the truth. People in the town report seeing a strange being - are they lying, or are they misinterpreting? Are they simply seeing UFOs, or is there more to the story? Intrepid reporter that he is, John wants to know more - although of course his thirst for knowledge is accompanied by a need to know what happened to his wife (why did the car crash?).

    Thrillers such as this one are hard to come by. It's not exactly a horror movie, but there are more than enough creepy moments to send a few chills reverberating through your body. It's a film that relies less on special effects than on such quaint ideals as character motivation and development and atmosphere. In fact, this movie's just brimming with atmosphere. We've all seen those cheesy movies in which a car runs out of gas along a desolate country road, and then BAM - some serial killers make dinner or belts out of the hapless occupants. But in this case, the monster is hardly ever seen, thereby heightening the scares.

    At the centerpiece is Gere as Klein. I've never, ever been a Gere fan; it seems to me he has one expression. He's never been terribly emotive and has been known in recent years more for the age disparity with his female costars than for anything else (they get younger, he stays the same old dude). Call him ruggedly handsome if you will, but vacuity is never really appealing.

    But this is not your typical Gere at all. He definitely turns in the best work of his career. Sure, he was appealing in Pretty Woman, but it was Julie Roberts' movie. Officer and a Gentleman? Ok, but that was Lou Gosset Jr.'s movie. Primal Fear? Red Corner? Runaway Bride? No, no, no. This is acting on a ledge for Gere. It's a true departure from the romantic comedies and the sly psuedo-mystery/dramas. Ordinarily, I would think such a movie would expose Gere for the terrible actor he is. But I would be wrong. This movie was so well written and directed that Gere rose to its level, rather than sinking it. That's a huge credit to him as an actor.

    Now, I need to differentiate between good acting and appeal. An actor can look good or be charming in a role and still be a bad actor; by contrast, an actor can look uncharming and turn in a great performance. But what's key is how the actor draws the audience in - do they sympathize with his plight? Are they on his side? How good of an actor he is will answer that question.

    Gere's Klein starts out as an average joe, and then we get to see him slowly descend into madness - we even descend a little with him. That vaunted atmosphere is so vibrant and realistic that we turn when he turns and feel things he feels. This is an absolute hallmark of excellent filmmaking (by Mark Pellington, whose only other big film was 1999's Arlington Road). The writing is crisp and eminently believable, and the acting in addition to Gere (including Laura Linney, Debra Messing, and Will Patton) is simply superb. And don't forget the prophecies part of the title, either; this "Mothman" entity issues warnings to whomever it deems worthy. Which sounds good, as long as one can interpret them correctly. Apparently, many have not.

    The story is based on actual events that took place in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, but this is no Amityville Horror story. With Amityville, one could distance oneself from the experiences of the family involved; we could say that it would never happen to us, it was only a movie. This is a little trickier with The Mothman Prophecies. It's a creepy, tingly movie that gets under your skin and crawls all over your heart.
    helpful•155
    37
    • dfranzen70
    • Jun 11, 2002

    FAQ10

    • What is "The Mothman Prophecies" about?
    • Is "The Mothman Prophecies" based on a book?
    • Is "The Mothman Prophecies" based on true events?

    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 25, 2002 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production company
      • Lakeshore Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 59 minutes
      • Color
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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