Review of The Rapture (1991) by Tim R — 03 Mar 2014

Mimi Rogers gives a remarkable performance in this devastating portrait of addiction and isolation from writer-director Michael Tolkin (best known for writing the novel and screenplay on which Robert Altman based his film The Player).

Rogers plays Sharon, a lonely single woman who alleviates the drudgery of her empty life through a series of anonymous sexual encounters. Along the way she meets Randy (David Duchovny, pre-X Files), a fellow sex addict who falls for her.

Sharon has a religious conversion and becomes a born-again Christian. She marries Randy and they have a little girl. The turn that the plot takes at this point is something I'll leave unspoken here, as the element of surprise definitely works in this particular film's favor.

It's a fascinating film that should open up a debate about the meaning and necessity of faith; the wonderful thing is that the film really doesn't take an explicit position, leaving the viewer to make up his own mind about the story and characters.

There are some stilted moments in which the characters come dangerously close to being simple vessels for Tolkin's religion-vs-psychology tract, but thanks to strong performances from a talented cast (which also includes been-there-done-that continental thespian Patrick Bauchau) things never feel too hollow or didactic.

An exceedingly well-made low budget film, boasting some truly lovely cinematography. At its best it skirts close to brilliance, but proceed with caution: this is some rather dark, depressing material.