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Overall Rating : 6.5/10
Directed By : Brian Gilbert
Christina Ricci (Prozac Nation)
Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four)
Stephen Dillane (Haven)
Kerry Fox
Supplied By : The Weinstein Company
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Jan. 30, 2007
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| PLOT Cassie is an American backpacker in rural England whose life takes a turn for the worse after a car accident. During recovery, she is befriended by a researcher studying a buried 1st Century church embedded with images of Christ’s crucifixion. She begins to have horrific visions of the townspeople and their deaths. Is the town cursed or are her visions spirits from the unearthed church grasping for life? |
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| THE REVIEW In THE GATHERING, when Cassie, an American backpacker is hit by a car while crossing the street, the woman whom hit her, her husband, Simon, and their children Michael and Emma. During the accident, Cassie suffered a concussion in which would cause her to lose her memory, with bits and pieces slowly resurfacing as time goes by. While she recovers, Cassie has been asked by the Kirkman family to stay with them and by, a sort of live in nanny, in which she agrees, because she has formed a bond with the children, especially with young Michael - but a relationship is not all in which they are bonded from. Michael has reoccurring nightmares of an old building, in which children can be heard screaming...it just so happens that Cassie shares the same dreams with him, but does not know of their origin or meaning. As if the nightmares were'nt weird enough for her, as she goes around town she begins to she old townspeople, that she seems to recognize from her past, she also sees terrible things happen to the people around her.... almost like she can see things before they happen, in a premonition like state. It isn't long before Simons work and Cassie's memory collide as she recognizes the faces in photos of an old buried church, as to being the ones she saw in town. Simon, is researching the church, because it seemed to have been built by someone whom had witnessed the crucifixion on Christ first hand, and the mural with the church show that many have witnessed it. In Simon and his partner's investigation they realize that the people depicted on the church walls, also appear in video footage of various tragedies - as if they are ghostly figures whom lust at the site of death, when a death is forthcoming, they are sure to gather and watch. With this knowledge in hand, Cassie knows that can only mean one thing....that death is about to happen to someone close....and all things point to Michael, a young boy she has grown fond of. First off, I am usually not big on religious themed films(unless it is first two EXORCIST films), don't get me wrong I believe in God, but when it comes to films based on the spiritual world, their content usually bores me to no end. So, with that said, imagine how I reacted while reading the plot for THE GATHERING, I wasn't too excited, but I knew if anything could save it, it would be a great performance by Christina Ricci. With this film not only did I get just that, but I got a little more than I expected, and that was a plot that was really brilliant and exciting as well. In some instances THE GATHERING has a hint of FINAL DESTINATION within, but only as far as Cassie's premonitions, as she can sense when something bad is about to happen, but the rest is quite new to me as I have not seen anything that remotely resembles it. Just the thought of a group of old townspeople showing up, just to watch, as someone is about to met their end, is both cool and freaky, their presence is quite imposing much like the Grim Reaper, whom is the more traditional form of the group of characters in this film known as "The Gathering" I like the fact also that although spiritual in plot, there is no mention of the Devil nor Satan in this film, a gimmick that has become old and tired over the years. instead it is replaced with the history of one town, and the sinful actions of many who occupy it to create a dark and ghostly atmosphere....some of the stares from the on looking 'Gathering' are just frightening! The acting here, i'd say is above average, Christina Ricci as I mentioned does a fine job - lately I have been checking out a few of her films, and I have noticed something... she often plays a character frustrated with oneself and socially repressed, but in THE GATHERING her character is different. Here she delivers her character of Cassie in a matter that is very likable and grounded... you sense the care for the Kirkman children as they are in danger, and it seems very real... Ricci does great. Ioan Gruffudd of FANTASTIC FOUR fame, as Dan offers a very diverse counterpart for Cassie whom is mysterious but in the end, becomes an object od love and trust for the confused Cassie, Gruffudd, has a way of keeping the character concealed, so just like the movie, you are wondering what he is about, although you do sense that there is more to him. I will not mention the rest of the cast, but that does not take anything away from their great performances, as they all played a part in making the film THE GATHERING, a really entertaining film. Overall, the filmmakers with THE GATHERING, have made a film, whose plot, is interesting until the very end, I enjoyed it mostly because it was fresh, and for the fact that it is something that most films these days are not....fairly unpredictable. |
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| GORE
METER 4/10 Not very gory, but we do have multiple gunshots to the chest, eye and so on, along with various visions of terror. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 3/10 The music featured in this film is more classical, but to tell the truth, it really gets drowned out by the story itself. | ||||
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM THE GATHERING is a film, that at first I didn't think i'd enjoy...but it turns out that I really did. I recommend checking this out, but if you plan on renting this film, please take note that being a Weinstein title it is being rented exclusively at Blockbuster chains only.... This DVD will be available January 30, 2007 |
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