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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES
The Mothman Prophecies

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The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

52%
44%
60%
N/A
N/A
N/A
52 %
Reviews Counted: 131 Fresh: 68  Rotten:63 Average Rating: 5.5/10
 
Consensus: A creepy thriller that poses more questions than it answers. A creepy thriller that poses more questions than it answers. more
 
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Synopsis:
Based on true events, "The Mothman Prophecies" examines a series of inexplicable occurrences through the eyes - and mind - of one man. Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton and Debra Messing star in this suspense-filled thriller about a man driven to extremes to investigate the mysterious... [More]
Based on true events, "The Mothman Prophecies" examines a series of inexplicable occurrences through the eyes - and mind - of one man. Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton and Debra Messing star in this suspense-filled thriller about a man driven to extremes to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding his wife's death - and how they might be connected to the strange phenomena in a town four hundred miles away. When is life truly at its best? John Klein (Richard Gere), a respected Washington Post journalist at the top of his game, recognizes that moment. It comes the day he and his wife Mary (Debra Messing) are house hunting and find the place of their dreams. It's a little too big, possibly a little more than he wanted to spend, but one look from Mary tells him this is it. Then on their joyful ride home, with a gust of wind and a passing shadow, the dream is shattered. The accident should have been avoidable. When Mary slammed on the brakes…there was nothing there. For Mary, the incident was a premonition. John puts everything on hold to be with her, but his love isn't enough to keep her alive. While removing Mary's possessions from the hospital, John remembers her last words: "You didn't see it, did you?" Then he discovers a sketchpad covered with odd drawings, variations of the same eerie apparition. John can't understand the significance of the drawings but is haunted by the unsettling images. A couple of years later, John's grief has settled somewhat but he is clearly a man altered by tragedy. He lives his life and performs his job in a fog, an unexplainable presence always with him. While driving one night from Washington to Richmond for an assignment, he loses his way and ends up on a deserted country highway. When his car inexplicably breaks down, he walks to a nearby farmhouse. The homeowner not only threatens John but tells him he has been waiting for him. John is baffled. Sgt. Connie Parker (Laura Linney) arrives on the scene and apologizes for the rude reception, but divulges that the entire county is on edge due to a recent series of odd disturbances. It is only now that John realizes that he is in Point Pleasant, West Virginia -- four hundred miles from where he thought he was. It is not logically possible. But here he is. How? His curiosity piqued, John decides to stay in Point Pleasant to explore the reports of unexplained phenomena in the town. He soon realizes that they may all be related - not just to each other, but also to the strange sketches Mary had been obsessively drawing just hours before her death. But what exactly is the connection? The events defy simple explanation and, even more disturbing, seem to predict impending disasters. Plane crashes, earthquakes… surely it must be a gruesome coincidence? The more he unravels, the more John begins to question his own sanity. Are there unknown forces behind the strange sightings? What terrible thing awaits the people of Point Pleasant? For John, it's a race against time to figure it out - and try to prevent something terrible from happening. -- © 2002 Screen Gems [Less]

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Starring: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton, Debra Messing, Alan Bates

Director: Mark Pellington
Screenwriter: Richard Hatem
Producer: Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Gary Goldstein

DVD Info

Release:

Mar 5, 2005

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • 2-Disc Set

Disc 1:

  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - French

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - 1. Mark Pellington - Director

Interactive Features:

  • Interactive Menus
  • Scene Selection

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Filmographies

Disc 2:

  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - French

Additional Release Material:

  • Trailers
  • Featurettes - 1. SEARCH FOR THE MOTHMAN
  • 2. DAY BY DAY: A DIRECTOR'S JOURNEY - THE ROAD IN
  • 3. DAY BY DAY: A DIRECTOR'S JOURNEY - THE ROAD HOME
  • Deleted Scenes (5)
  • Music Video

Interactive Features:

  • Interactive Menus
  • Scene Selection

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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Ratings Image

The Mothman Prophecies is the kind of solemn, credulous junk that Men in Black so cleverly sent up.

Full Review | Comment
01/11/08 02:53 PM
Philip French
Observer [UK]
Ratings Image

Gere does a great deal in solo scenes with no dialogue, suggesting that he might not be as alone in the dark as he seems.

Full Review | Comment
12/30/06 07:14 AM
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

There are certainly strong moments and efficient set pieces here, too, but for all the claims that the film, adapted from a 1975 book by John Keel, is based on real events, Pellington fails to sustain credibility.

Full Review | Comment
02/09/06 03:17 AM
Wally Hammond
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

Uneven, frustrating, disappointing film that criminally wastes the talents of Laura Linney.

Full Review | Comment
10/30/02 08:22 AM
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image

Based on a true story, this creepy drama effectively gets under our skin ... and most importantly never makes the typical mistakes of a Hollywood thriller.

Full Review | Comment
06/20/02 08:15 AM
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image

With careful handling of the freakiness of the subject matter, the film is thoroughly intriguing, and with its inventive direction and eerie atmosphere, it's also a highly watchable mystery-drama.

Full Review | Comment
03/25/02 08:13 AM
Daniel Etherington
FilmFour.com
Ratings Image

Tries to hide the fact that it's not telling us anything by distracting us with stupid smoke-and-mirror tactics

Full Review | Comment
03/10/02 08:12 AM
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic
Ratings Image

The stone-faced Gere is more at home here than in a romcom role and there are a few effectively scary moments. But it goes on a good 15 minutes too long.

Full Review | Comment
03/03/02 08:12 AM
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

Ingenious thriller, which draws on urban legend to fashion a spooky supernatural yarn in the best traditions of The X-Files.

Full Review | Comment
02/17/02 08:12 AM
Neil Smith
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

This is the scariest movie I've ever seen.

Full Review | Comment
01/11/08 02:57 PM
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image

Director Mark Pellington hardly lets a moment pass without suggesting some bad vibes creeping onto the edges of the screen, but he's let down by Richard Hatem's script.

Full Review | Comment
01/11/08 02:56 PM
Robert Koehler
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

In promoting its cliche-ridden sci-fi-horror, Sony is using the tage "based on true story," as if the "factulaity" of the text is a badge of honor, or necessary condition for taking the schlocky flick more seriously.

Full Review | Comment
12/25/06 01:37 PM
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image

It does provide a spectacular jolt that haunts after the credits have finished.

Full Review | Comment
12/06/05 08:04 PM
Michael Dequina
Film Threat
Ratings Image

A big disappointment.

Full Review | Comment
09/30/05 03:22 AM
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
Ratings Image

Few recent movies have such portentous and eerie nocturnal scenes ...Don't let this one fly away-it's a real wing-dinger.

Full Review | Comment
09/23/04 05:23 PM
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
Ratings Image

It's bone-chillingly, back-crawlingly, heart-stoppingly scary!

Full Review | Comment
02/24/04 07:03 AM
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com
Ratings Image

Criando um clima de suspense e tensão eficaz, Pellington narra uma história intrigante e bem resolvida.

| Comment
07/25/03 10:33 PM
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
Ratings Image

The story is eerie and gets under the skin, but director Mark Pellington is unable to recreate the suspense found in the best supernatural thrillers.

Full Review | Comment
05/30/03 01:34 PM
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal
Ratings Image

Destined to enjoy a late night video audience for many years to come.

Full Review | Comment
05/22/03 06:21 AM
Harry Guerin
RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
Ratings Image

You would probably be better off watching an episode of The X-Files instead . . .

Full Review | Comment
04/09/03 12:13 AM
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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