The Phoenix Network:
 
 
 
About  |  Advertise
 
Movies
Features  |  Reviews

The Reaping

Over-serious eye candy
By CHRIS WANGLER  |  April 11, 2007
1.0 1.0 Stars
070405_inside_reaping
ON CLOSER LOOK: There is nothing truly frightening about this silly thriller.

This preposterous thriller from Stephen Hopkins stars Hilary Swank as a lapsed Christian missionary who specializes in scientific explanations for seemingly supernatural religious phenomena. When 10 Biblical plagues (CGI locusts, lice, etc.) descend on a small Louisiana town, she’s summoned to figure out how a barefoot pubescent girl (AnnaSophia Robb) might be connected. Mixing CSI talk with a lot of evangelical mumbo-jumbo, this over-serious eye candy keeps you on the edge of your seat but never freaks you out. Blame the lack of anything truly frightening — is anyone (other than the FDA) disturbed by dead cows, a lazy river of blood, and maggots on barbecued fish? Swank, clad in a rainbow of flattering tanktops, passes as a wounded workaholic grappling with her own demons, but her crisis of belief never materializes.
Related:
  Topics: Reviews , Hilary Swank , Stephen Hopkins , AnnaSophia Robb ,  More more >
  • Share:
  • RSS feed Rss
  • Email this article to a friend Email
  • Print this article Print
Comments

Today's Event Picks
Plus 6 more >>
ARTICLES BY CHRIS WANGLER
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   CADILLAC RECORDS  |  December 12, 2008
    Muddies the Waters, but in a Good Way
  •   BOLT  |  November 24, 2008
    Pixarian technical wizardry and Disney schmaltz
  •   PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS  |  October 08, 2008
    Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies
  •   GHOST TOWN  |  September 16, 2008
    A fill-in-the-blanks, DOA comedy
  •   MIRRORS  |  August 20, 2008
    A less gory and more clichéd remake

 See all articles by: CHRIS WANGLER

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 
HOT TOPICS
 More Topics . . .
LATEST SLIDESHOWS

All Slideshows



Thursday, January 08, 2009  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group