The Reaping

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: April 5, 2007

6.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 114 Ratings

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TheQuietGamerOct 20, 2017

What starts off as a promising bit of faith-based horror quickly loses it's way. After an a pretty exciting and creepy foray into a mysterious river of blood, we are left to wade through a confusing middle chapter that's a bit of a slog onlyWhat starts off as a promising bit of faith-based horror quickly loses it's way. After an a pretty exciting and creepy foray into a mysterious river of blood, we are left to wade through a confusing middle chapter that's a bit of a slog only to come to arrive at a final act that feels half-baked. The results are ultimately unsatisfying, but the strange combination of ideas is still compelling.

The film's visual style is reminiscent of the dark fairy tale imagery one would find in Guillermo del Toro's more celebrated and original works. This movie ultimately doesn't reach the same heights as a del Toro movie as it ends up diving too much into gothic melodrama. At least it's a very pretty film that looks different than the vast majority of horror movies out there. It does have a strange made-for-TV vibe going for it though. It's shot in a weird soap opera style and the performances are a little basic with the exception of Idris Elba who is the highlight of the film. This all does make sure the movie is certainly original and interesting because of that, but it does little on the quality front.

By far the most disappointing aspect of the movie outside of it's lack of narrative focus is that it really doesn't have anything to say about religious faith. You'll see characters who are Christian, and these are definitely Biblical plagues going on, but outside of that first plague that kicks things off, the movie sort of leaves God in the backseat until the end as a way of giving some sort of explanation for all the weirdness happening in this small town. The rest of the plagues are just there to try and give you the heebie-jeebies by being strange. In the end this is both a watchable and sometimes fascinating movie, but one that sadly isn't executed as well as it could have been and left me wanting more.

6.5/10… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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moviegrabbagJun 12, 2011

I'm not really sure why I didn't like this movie. The acting was solid and the story flowed very well. There was just something about this movie that rubbed me the wrong way. I think that was the fact I figured out the twist ending very earlyI'm not really sure why I didn't like this movie. The acting was solid and the story flowed very well. There was just something about this movie that rubbed me the wrong way. I think that was the fact I figured out the twist ending very early in the movie. Overall this movie is probably worth a watch if nothing else then just to say you watched it, but I don't think it's going to stick with you very long after that.… Expand

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RikiegeJan 12, 2013

There are times when the movie is boring but other times very surprising.

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bfoore90Nov 4, 2017

Starts with promise but loses its way by the time it ends. Hillary Swank, Idris Elba are good and have good characters but what starts off as a faith based horror thriller eventually finds itself losing its narrative and focus when if it hadStarts with promise but loses its way by the time it ends. Hillary Swank, Idris Elba are good and have good characters but what starts off as a faith based horror thriller eventually finds itself losing its narrative and focus when if it had committed to what it was originally had in mind it would have been more enjoyable. With that being said, its watchable and does provide some food for thought.… Expand

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AllmightyVoiceApr 4, 2007

Swank does her best with material that would've barely made it as an episode of "The X Files". She's a scientist bent on debunking claims of religious miracles, who finds herself and her partner summoned to a Louisiana backwoods Swank does her best with material that would've barely made it as an episode of "The X Files". She's a scientist bent on debunking claims of religious miracles, who finds herself and her partner summoned to a Louisiana backwoods backwater to investigate incidents that suggest the Old Testatment Biblical plaques have returned. More supernatural than straight-up horror, there's nothing new here for fans of either genre. For die-hard Swank fans only.… Expand