The Mothman Prophecies Review

by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)
January 25th, 2002
THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2002 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *

The almost always reliable Laura Linney (YOU CAN COUNT ON ME) isn't very good in THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, but, to be fair, it's not her fault. A thriller that tries to be THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT for grown-ups with a little GROUNDHOG DAY thrown in as well, the picture is a disjointed and incomprehensible mess. Supposedly based on actual events that transpired in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, the movie makes no sense. No matter how many times he shoots scenes through red filters, Mark Pellington (ARLINGTON ROAD) can't make us care enough to attempt to decipher who or what the Mothman is. The only thing that we're sure of is that we were going to have to endure almost two entire hours of this hokum.

The film starts off promisingly with its one effectively scary episode. Washington Post reporter John Klein (Richard Gere) and his wife Mary (Debra Messing) have a frightening encounter with a shadowy, moth-like figure. "You didn't see him, did you?" Mary asks rhetorically. "See what?" John replies nonplussed.

Although we never really get to see the creature, we do learn of his powers, which include premonitions like "99 will die!" and "Wake up number 37." Like a bad case of the flu, he, she or it causes puffy eyes and other such ailments.
When the movie finally gets to its very long concluding incident, in which a massive number of people are in peril, you'll be probably thinking what I did -- "Oh die, already!" so we can finally put this movie in its grave.

THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES runs 1:53. It is rated PG-13 for "terror, some sexuality and language" and would be acceptable for teenagers.

The film opens nationwide today, Friday, January 25, 2002. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC and the Century theaters.

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