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Movies / On DVD / The Mothman Prophecies
The Mothman Prophecies

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The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

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Reviews Counted:132

Fresh:68

Rotten:64

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: A creepy thriller that poses more questions than it answers.

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

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... 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 [More]

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

Starring: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton, Debra Messing, Alan Bates, Lucinda Jenney, Nesbitt Blaisdell

Director: Mark Pellington

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

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Reviews for The Mothman Prophecies

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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The Mothman Prophecies is the kind of solemn, credulous junk that Men in Black so cleverly sent up.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
01/11/08
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

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 Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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 Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

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 Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
06/20/02
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

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 Source: FilmFour.com | comment Comment
03/25/02
Daniel Etherington
Daniel Etherington
FilmFour.com

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

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
03/10/02
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

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 Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/03/02
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
02/17/02
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
09/29/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

The last reel or so is an embarrassment -- or entertainment at long last, depending on how you look at it.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/18/08
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

This is the scariest movie I've ever seen.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
01/11/08
Lisa Alspector
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader

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 Source: Variety | comment Comment
01/11/08
Robert Koehler
Robert Koehler
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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 Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment 2 Comments
12/25/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

A big disappointment.

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

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 Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
09/23/04
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

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

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
02/24/04
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

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

comment Comment
07/25/03
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
 
 
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