Review of The Mothman Prophecies (2002) by Brian R — 13 Feb 2008

The Mothman Prophecies is a surprising, albeit congested slice of thriller that takes facts from crypto zoological happenings, and spins a yarn unlike any other before it. It's easy to start first with the actual novel by John Keel and work your way through this incredible mythos that surrounds all of Point Pleasant, the epicenter of weirdness in America. But, as a piece structured around a different medium entirely, it's a stand alone narrative that as mentioned before works on an entirely new level.

There's several new and fascinating ideas brought to the table, especially some bouts of existentialism, found in the meandering thoughts of a larger then life presence attempting to communicate theories of doom to inhabitants that merely represent cockroaches who can't seem to listen.

Yes, there are heavy bouts of Kafkaesque paranoia, and an overt sense of doom that is inescapable, a prophecy that is written in stone and will inevitable come true. Bear in mind, this is a delicate film that rests on a razor wire, case in point, you will hardly see Mothman as a creature, as it cannot be described as a creature. (Read the witness reports, only two giant red eyes, larger then any creature seen, wings, a consistent and moving mass of blackness). This isn't about Mothman, or the voice of Indrid Cold, it's about the wake of abrupt loss and coping mechanisms gone awry. There are revelations abound in many different facets of the film. Such as the cinematography, at times boastful and ambitious, but mostly subdued, as a thriller should be. Perhaps the seemingly open aspect of the film is another strong point, it's focused on delivering another strange message to the viewer and leaving its characters where they stand against their own philosophies and skepticism.

Much like many other modern day thrillers, there is no concrete answer for what has occurred, life cannot be solved. For its ambition and solid direction, it's worth seeing alone. It's the only time you can even consider saying that Gere has shone in his rather long, boring, and terrible career. It's terribly fascinating, violent, creepy, and surreal, it's the composition of true horror because of the fundamental misunderstanding that is talked about so very much in the film.

American weirdness perfected.