Review of The Reaping (2007) by Heather — 14 Mar 2009
The Reaping is frequently silly, occasionally cliched and slow to get going, but the acting is good and it rallies for an impressive climax. In this thriller from director Stephen Hopkins, Hilary Swank is Katherine Winter, a college professor who refutes mysteries and so-called miracles with scientific evidence.
When science teacher Doug Blackwell (David Morrisey) invites Katherine and her former teaching assistant/current colleague, Ben to his hometown of Haven, Louisiana, to investigate a river whose water has turned blood-red following the mysterious death of a local boy, the cynical professor is forced to find her own faith.
The river of blood is just the first in a series of strange occurrences in Haven. It seems that each of the 10 plagues from Exodus is being manifested, in order. The citizens of this Bible Belt town are convinced that 12-year-old Loren McConnell (AnnaSophia Robb) is responsible for her brother's death and for the strange events.
Soon, Katherine finds herself questioning everything as memories from her past suddenly infiltrate the present in her search for the truth. Swank is reliably solid as Katherine, a woman of faith who lost everything important to her and turned to science for answers.
This review of The Reaping (2007) was written by Heather on 14 Mar 2009.
The Reaping has generally received mixed reviews.
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