Sometimes I'm presented with the challenge of making sense of Christian entertainment. Working in Christian radio a number of weird videos pass across my desk. Today the promotions manager at work handed me a wild looking DVD and asked me If I would watch it and tell her if I thought it was safe for a family audience. What I was treated to was probably the silliest "supernatural" thriller I have ever seen.
THE VISITATION, based on the best selling novel by FRANK PERETTI, tells the tale of a Pastor named Travis, who lost his faith when he lost his wife, and of a town in the middle of a spiritual crisis. The town of Antioch has experienced a series of weird religious miracles. A boy survives a deadly car crash without a scratch, a man is healed of knee pain when he touches the tears that come from a wooden crucifix, a picture of Jesus has shown up in a mildew stain on a shower wall, and the local shopkeeper has gotten out of his wheelchair and walked. Then, a stranger named Brandon Nichols (Edward Furlong) comes to town ans is seen as the man who made all these miracles happen, so obviously the town embraces him as the second coming of Christ. But alas things may not be what they seem, and it's up to Travis and Antioch's new Veterinarian (Kelly Lynch) to figure out just what is going on.
I guess in every group there is a special language that outsiders can't quite understand. In evangelical Christianity we call it "Christianese." THE VISITATION is steeped in it. Even I felt like I needed a refresher course. If your not familiar with the lingo most of this film will make little sense. Every moment of the film seemed to be predicated on some basic Christian Theology without any entry way for those who are not familiar to catch up. It also renders a lot of the dialogue corny and contrived.
But if you can get past that you probably won't even be able to figure out just what the movie is trying to say. There is no logic to the world that created in this film. Good and Evil may be defined but why can someone cast out a demon in one scene and not be able to do it in another scene? Are the demons really demons? If they are really Demons how exactly do they manifest themselves as humans? Why go through all the trouble anyway? These questions are surprising because normally Frank Peretti as an author defines Evil in terms that make sense and because he is listed as one of producers on the film the rough script by Brian Godawa (TO END ALL WARS) had to have passed his desk at some point during the production. Is his novel as convoluted as the screenplay? I would hope not.
I especially loved the nod to "CSI" as the plucky Vet (Kelly Lynch) uses an a CAT scan to read a piece of newspaper. It seems to be the only reason that her character is a vet, is so that someone can use this machine to gleam absolutely nothing that is important. But I laughed as that black piece of paper was run through the machine. It was silly.
More importantly who the heck came up with the ending of this film? I've seen some really bad closing moments in movies but THE VISITATION'S hokey ending actually mad me laugh. It is easily the dumbest closing moment I've ever seen. It involves a chisel and a Bible and it really does have to be seen to be believed.
As for the cast you really can't blame them for their performances they're as good as they can be. Randy Travis plays the dull pastor whose faith never waivers with as much passion as he can. Martin Donovan gives Travis enough passion to keep his performance watch able, and Kelly Lynch does what she can with the damsel in distress role. As for Edward Furlong he gets the Christian Slater award of excellence for his over the top tirade in the closing minutes of the film.
Don't rent this movie unless your prepared to toss popcorn at the TV and laugh heartily at its complete and utter insanity. This is a bad movie and if you like that kind of thing this will be your cup of tea. If not flee far away from THE VISITATION, oh and by to answer my promotions director this film is not safe for a family audience.
THE VISITATION, based on the best selling novel by FRANK PERETTI, tells the tale of a Pastor named Travis, who lost his faith when he lost his wife, and of a town in the middle of a spiritual crisis. The town of Antioch has experienced a series of weird religious miracles. A boy survives a deadly car crash without a scratch, a man is healed of knee pain when he touches the tears that come from a wooden crucifix, a picture of Jesus has shown up in a mildew stain on a shower wall, and the local shopkeeper has gotten out of his wheelchair and walked. Then, a stranger named Brandon Nichols (Edward Furlong) comes to town ans is seen as the man who made all these miracles happen, so obviously the town embraces him as the second coming of Christ. But alas things may not be what they seem, and it's up to Travis and Antioch's new Veterinarian (Kelly Lynch) to figure out just what is going on.
I guess in every group there is a special language that outsiders can't quite understand. In evangelical Christianity we call it "Christianese." THE VISITATION is steeped in it. Even I felt like I needed a refresher course. If your not familiar with the lingo most of this film will make little sense. Every moment of the film seemed to be predicated on some basic Christian Theology without any entry way for those who are not familiar to catch up. It also renders a lot of the dialogue corny and contrived.
But if you can get past that you probably won't even be able to figure out just what the movie is trying to say. There is no logic to the world that created in this film. Good and Evil may be defined but why can someone cast out a demon in one scene and not be able to do it in another scene? Are the demons really demons? If they are really Demons how exactly do they manifest themselves as humans? Why go through all the trouble anyway? These questions are surprising because normally Frank Peretti as an author defines Evil in terms that make sense and because he is listed as one of producers on the film the rough script by Brian Godawa (TO END ALL WARS) had to have passed his desk at some point during the production. Is his novel as convoluted as the screenplay? I would hope not.
I especially loved the nod to "CSI" as the plucky Vet (Kelly Lynch) uses an a CAT scan to read a piece of newspaper. It seems to be the only reason that her character is a vet, is so that someone can use this machine to gleam absolutely nothing that is important. But I laughed as that black piece of paper was run through the machine. It was silly.
More importantly who the heck came up with the ending of this film? I've seen some really bad closing moments in movies but THE VISITATION'S hokey ending actually mad me laugh. It is easily the dumbest closing moment I've ever seen. It involves a chisel and a Bible and it really does have to be seen to be believed.
As for the cast you really can't blame them for their performances they're as good as they can be. Randy Travis plays the dull pastor whose faith never waivers with as much passion as he can. Martin Donovan gives Travis enough passion to keep his performance watch able, and Kelly Lynch does what she can with the damsel in distress role. As for Edward Furlong he gets the Christian Slater award of excellence for his over the top tirade in the closing minutes of the film.
Don't rent this movie unless your prepared to toss popcorn at the TV and laugh heartily at its complete and utter insanity. This is a bad movie and if you like that kind of thing this will be your cup of tea. If not flee far away from THE VISITATION, oh and by to answer my promotions director this film is not safe for a family audience.