Reaping (2007)

"...will terrify and traumatize even the most seasoned movie-goer.  Earl Dittman, Wireless Magazines
"An outstanding supernatural thriller.  Jim Ferguson, ABC-TV
"Keeps you on the edge of your seat when you're not jumping out of it!  Melanie Moon, KPLR-TV
"A terrific thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!  Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV
"...effectively unsettling...with shades of "The Exorcist" and even "Rosemary's Baby"...  Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Editor's Note In this thriller from director Stephen Hopkins (LOST IN SPACE, UNDER SUSPICION), Oscar winner Hilary Swank is Katherine Winter, a college professor who refutes mysteries and so-called miracles with scientific evidence. When science teacher Doug Blackwell (David Morrisey) invites Katherine and her former teaching assistant/current colleague, Ben (Idris Elba), to his hometown of Haven, Louisiana, to investigate a river whose water has turned blood-red following the mysterious death of a local boy, the cynical professor is forced to find her own faith. The river of blood is just the first in a series of strange occurrences in Haven. It seems that each of the 10 plagues from Exodus is being manifested, in order. The citizens of this Bible Belt town are convinced that 12-year-old Loren McConnell (AnnaSophia Robb) is responsible for her brother's death and for the strange events. Soon, Katherine finds herself questioning everything as memories from her past suddenly infiltrate the present in her search for the truth. The Deep South setting is both beautiful and creepy--particularly Doug's classic antebellum mansion, and the swamps where the McConnell family lives. Swank is reliably solid as Katherine, a woman of faith who lost everything important to her and turned to science for answers. Young AnnaSophia Robb, a young actress to watch, has a captivating screen presence. Brits David Morrissey and Idris Elba (THE WIRE) round out the main characters, with Morrissey a convincing Southern gentleman and Elba a man who overcame his tough life on the streets to become a professor. Stephen Rea also appears as Father Costigan, a link to Katherine's sad past.

	AnnaSophia Robb
	David Morrissey
	Hilary Swank
	Stephen Rea
	Brian Rousso - Based On Story By
	Bruce Berman - Executive Producer
	Carey Hayes - Screenplay
	Chad Hayes - Screenplay
	Colby Parker, Jr. - Editor
	Graham "Grace" Walker - Production Designer
	John Frizzell - Original Music By
	Peter Levy - Cinematographer
	Robert Zemeckis - Producer
	Scott Ritenour - Art Director
	Stephen Hopkins - Director

ReelViews 5 of 10
Upon reflection, it's not difficult to understand why The Reaping languished for so long on the shelves of Warner Brothers before being dumped into distribution...The film, despite attempts at edit-room reparation, is virtually unreleasable. For about 50 minutes, it's reasonably coherent and offers a few interesting ideas and characters, then it all implodes in a rather spectacular fashion. When it's all done, no one - not the filmmakers, the characters, or the audience - can make sense of the debris, nor is it worth the effort to try. When it comes to the storyline, God only knows...Director Stephen Hopkins is one of those B-level directors who has upon occasion flirted with marginal recognition. The Reaping won't offer him the opportunity to upgrade his status. It's hard to say what is more responsible for the film's utter failure: his direction, the editing, or the screenplay. The result is such a muddle that one assumes each aspect deserves part of the blame. I have never been a big fan of the original The Omen, but the more movies I see about God, the Devil, and the war between them, the more convinced I become that that's as good as it gets. As for The Reaping, just let it lie in the field and rot. - James Berardinelli

Variety 7 of 10
Few recent studio horror pictures have courted (or, depending on one's perspective, pandered to) a Christian audience as blatantly as "The Reaping." Revisiting the book of Exodus in a feverish Southern-gothic context, this lurid,often ludicrously entertaining slab of Biblesploitation builds an earnest case for spirituality in a skeptical age. As demonstrated by the thematically similar "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," there's an audience for this kind of faith-based sensationalism...Born to play tough, unflinching heroines, Swank resists the temptation to turn Katherine's atheism into an easy irritant, instead portraying her as someone who quietly respects the beliefs of others even as she's lost her own. Still, the character's prodigal journey is so circumscribed from the outset -- and Swank's own bid for B.O. success in a genre vehicle is so transparent -- that very little she does here feels spontaneous or surprising, save for a few warmly maternal flashes that emerge in her interactions with Robb (who was long overdue for a terrifying-tot role)...Swampy Louisiana locales give pic more color and sweaty atmosphere than most horror-thrillers, while Peter Levy's wavering handheld camerawork adds some tension. In addition to being packed with the usual sudden jolts and guttural shrieks, the soundtrack makes lyrically inventive use of wind chimes. - Justin Chang