THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES
US, 2002, 119 minutes, Colour.
Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton, Debra Messing, Lucinda Jenney.
Directed by Mark Pellington.
The Mothman Prophecies is based on a book by John Keel – allegedly based on events in West Virginia in the 1960s. However, fans of The X Files will believe in this kind of reality. Others may well dismiss it as the imagination of the author.
The film focuses on Richard Gere as a journalist, married to Debra Messing, buying a new house, upwardly mobile in his career when his wife is killed in a car accident, stating that she saw a large moth and had a book of drawings which is given to him after her death.
Two years later he is travelling to Richmond, Virginia, veers towards West Virginia and has a strange experience involving Will Patton and a confrontation at 2.30 in the morning. The local police chief, played by Laura Linney, is called in. Gere is bewildered by what is happening to him, discovers connections with the Mothman, especially from Will Patton. Prophecies are involved, especially about disasters and the number of people to be killed. Gere neglects his job, stays in the town, works with the police chief, discovers other people who have had similar kinds of experiences. The Will Patton character is tormented and kills himself. The motivation for the journalist seems to be to solve the mystery but also hoping to get in touch with his dead wife.
Finally, there is a prophecy of a disaster near the town – when it happens, it is one of the more spectacular special effects of a bridge’s destruction, filmed very realistically. It brings the musings and the mysteries to a rather dramatic conclusion.
Richard Gere and Laura Linney had appeared previously in Primal Fear.
The film was directed by Mark Pellington whose other significant films include Going All the Way and Arlington Road.
1. The film based on a popular novel, apocalyptic, futuristic, mysterious? The transcendent?
2. How plausible the plot? A plot for science fantasy?
3. The presentation of normal life and activity, the workplaces, the media, house-searching, politics?
4. The contrast with Point Pleasant, the mysterious roads, farms? The role of the police? The cafes, motels? Ordinary but sinister?
5. The introduction to John Klein, at work, his colleagues, later covering for him, his reputation, house-hunting, going to meet his wife, the strength of their relationship, joyful, the decision about the house, meeting, the drive, the fear in his wife, the crash, her death? The hospital, his grief? The puzzle about the drawings and her speaking of the moth?
6. Two years passing, Klein and his work, going to interview politicians, travelling, the stop in West Virginia, going to the house for help, Gordon Smallwood and his hostility? His violence? The arrival of Connie Mills, her practicality, common sense, handling the situations? An effective policewoman?
7. Klein and his experiences, mentally disturbed, not accounting well for time, the encounters with Gordon and his wife? Talking things over with Connie? The strange events, his encountering other people, the drawings? The elaboration of the Mothman theory?
8. The events in the town, the people who had experienced the Mothman? Ordinary – but symbolic of something strange? Victims?
9. The discovery of Alexander Leek, contact with him, the phone calls? Premonitions? The numbers of dead? Klein and his going to visit Leek, their discussions? Insight?
10. The warning about the disaster, thirty-seven to die, the bridge? His going to the bridge, Connie on the bridge? The spectacle of the effects for the destruction of the bridge, the cars, people, the river? Klein and his ability to save some people? The apocalyptic tone?
11. Connie, her being caught, Klein and getting her out of the car, the rescue?
12. A sense of peace, no Mothman intervening? But always the possibilities?
13. The effect of the audience, the X Files kind of mentality, people and their credulity, superstitions, New Age? An interesting example of this kind of fiction?
