The Mothman Prophecies [DVD]

mark pellington's film has many strengths - a surreal atmosphere evoked by sound and light, strong performances from the cast, superb editing and a spine tingling score... but perhaps its strongest point is the films restraint. the film scares well but it doesn't use sudden loud noises, cats jumping into frame or quick editing to do so. instead, pellington builds a sense of dread from the off - something in this world isn't quite right.
richard gere is quite effective in a stoic role - indeed he reigns in a performance free of his usual facial ticks. laura linney is as good as she ever is (which is fine by me) even if her role is a little under written. in a tiny role as gere's wife, debra messing is surprisingly good and will patton gives a strong reading of a man tortured by visions of disaster.
a terrificly subtle movie that lingers in the mind - perhaps one of the best horror movies of the last few years.

This is a fabulous film. It's based on the true story of a "moth-man" creature seen in various sightings around the world, as a pre-cursor to disaster events. This moth-man appears before the disaster, presenting rather clouded and confusing messages to those he visits. It transpires that these messages are in fact prophecies of the impending disaster.
Richard Gere is very well cast here as the innocent guy caught up in the mystery after his wife dies after a car crash. In the seconds before the crash, his wife "sees" this awful creature lundge at the car. She dies some days later, after doctors discover a brain tumour - which would not have been discovered had it not have been for the crash caused by the moth-man.
Two years later, Richard's character is drawn into the mystery when he takes a drive in his car, only to end up hundreds of miles away from his intended destination in about a quarter of the time it should have taken to get there! He soon learns of sightings of this wierd being whom he recognises as that seen by his wife before her death.
What follows is Richard's attempts to quantify his experiences which are interlinked with an increasing number of sightings in a small American town he is drawn to.
I won't say any more as it will ruin the many twists and turns.
Suffice it to say it's a very well made film with some chilling moments (similar in effect to that famous twist at the end of Sixth Sense). It keeps you on your seat's edge guessing at precisely what is going on and why.
You are still left with questions at the end, but they retain the mystery surrounding what is a true phenomenan.
The final scenes on a river bridge are superb and just when you think you know where the film's going, it takes yet another twist.
Fine acting, a deep and fascinating story line and cleverly directed suspense scenes make this one NOT to miss.

The uneasiness this film precipitates in the viewer is quite enjoyably disturbing! One cannot ascertain if the the forces at work within the story are benign or malignant and this adds to the stress it induces! If you're a fan of 'shock and gore' horror then this film is NOT for you. This is a film that stays with you long after it is over and has one ruminating about the idea of what the Mothman represents

I thoroughly recommend this DVD if you enjoy intellectually-driven horror!