By: debbie lynn elias
Based on the novel by John Keel with a screenplay by Richard Hatem, “The Mothman Prophecies” is the tale of a small West Virginia town named Point Pleasant and its people who suffered some horrific and terrifying events, the most horrendous of which was a bridge collapse killing some 36 people in the mid 1960’s. Townspeople blamed the tragedies and strange occurrences on the “Mothman,” a mothlike manifestation with red eyes, believed to be the spirit of once renowned Indian chief.
Richard Gere stars as Washington Post reporter, John Klein, happily married, house hunting husband who suddenly loses his beloved wife to a rare brain cancer. Apparently ill for sometime but totally unaware, Mary Klein is injured in a car accident caused by her apparent vision of the “Mothman.” Thinking head trauma to be the cause of these hallucinations, CT scans are performed giving a medical explanation for Mary’s illness and trauma, but even two years after her death, the ever inquisitive investigative reporter John is not convinced that Mary was hallucinating.
Unknown forces mysteriously draw Klein from the safety of his Georgetown home to the bizarre happenings of Point Pleasant where he meets up with the local sheriff Connie Parker played by Gere’s “Primal Fear” co-star, Laura Linney. The sheriff begins to tell Klein of the strange going-ons in the town – and all regaled by credible, Bible-thumping, God-fearing Christians. Drawings by local townsfolk of a “creature” involved in these strange events are identical to those drawn by Klein’s wife shortly before her death, pushing Klein into reporter mode, determined to solve the mysteries at hand.
Linney, who is always superb, is one of the few reasons to see this film giving a steady, even keeled, self-assured and convincing performance. Gere on the other hand, always seems to be in a maelstrom of confusion and bewilderment, never quite sure which way is up and leaving the audience wondering if his character is distressed, panicked, depressed, or just plain lost. The chemistry between Gere and Linney, however, is terrific and helps offset some of Gere’s shortcomings.
A real highlight is Will Patton as local resident, Gordon, a man tormented by the increasing presence of voices, visions and prophecies. Gordon’s conviction in the reality of these strange events is a driving factor in Klein’s investigation and as a result, keeps the story going. Although a nice turn by “Will & Grace” star Debra Messing as Mary Klein, her screen time here is short, lacking and unimpressive. Her one saving “grace”, however, is a brief comic moment when Mary and John agree to buy a new house and as they decide to celebrate their decision with sexual adventures on the closet floor, the real estate agent walks in on them. Messing, in her trademark Grace Adler innocence deadpans, “we’re just checking to see if there’s enough closet space.” Debra, please, don’t give up your day job!
Directed by “Arlington Road” veteran, Mark Pellington, the film is visually inventive with a color palette of subdued blues and grays, highlighted by vivid reds symbolizing our friend the Mothman. Unfortunately, there is too little visualization of the Mothman himself which makes it difficult to really work yourself into a nail-biting, seat clenching fear frenzy. The beauteous visuals set early in the film wane as the film progresses, leaving the viewer straining to stay with the story while Pellington’s heavy reliance on music cues to aid in the storytelling and supposed scare factor reaches the point of overkill.
In that I remember the Point Pleasant bridge collapse and that I actually used the story for a current events report in elementary school, it’s finally nice to have an answer for what modern science, architecture and engineering could never explain. Unfortunately, the actual event caused more fright than the film.
