Stephen Films - Reviews - The Visitation (20th Century Fox: 2006)

The Visitation
(20th Century Fox: 2006)
I tend to follow an unspoken rule regarding direct-to-DVD releases; namely, I don't watch them. After all, direct-to-DVD releases tend to be direct-to-DVD releases for a reason. And although The Visitation isn’t exactly a direct-to-DVD release, it’s theatrical release was so brief and limited that the movie may as well be regarded as a direct-to-DVD release. Yet, in spite of my unwritten rule regarding such film releases, I chose to make The Visitation an exception to the rule for three simple reasons: (1) The movie is based on a novel, (2) the novel was written by Frank Peretti, and (3) I'm a Frank Peretti fan.

For those who are unaware, Frank Peretti is a premier writer of modern supernatural thrillers. His novels tend to be Christian-themed, but this doesn't mean that he caters to just a small niche. His newest releases have frequently appeared on department store shelves, and many of his novels have also been featured in such publications as The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and Newsweek.

In The Visitation, one of Peretti's more recent novels, strange supernatural occurrences begin to appear in the small town of Antioch, Washington. A crucifix cries at a Catholic church and miraculously heals an aging janitor of his arthritis. Several townsfolk claim to observe apparitions in the sky. Strange men are seen wandering through the streets of the town, proclaiming that someone, or something, is coming soon. Then, a young man named Brandon Nichols (Edward Furlong) appears in town, claiming to be the messiah.

Enter Travis Jordan (Martin Donovan), a tired ex-minister who is so fed up with religion that he doesn't care to give these strange events so much as a second thought. But the more bizarre that these local events become, the more Travis feels compelled to find the truth behind the so-called messiah that has managed to throw the town into complete chaos. And the more that Travis discovers the truth about Brandon Nichols, the more that this tired ex-minister must face the painful realities about his own past.

What makes the plot of The Visitation unique from most other Peretti novels is the fact that the story is just as much about the deep emotional journey of its main character as it is about being a fast-paced, gripping supernatural thriller. Unfortunately, the film adaptation of the book makes a big mistake by catering fully to the novel's "supernatural thriller" aspect, all while abandoning the deep emotional journey that is supposed to be undertaken by the main character.

From the very beginning of the movie, this action seems intentional. While the novel begins with an uneasy, yet disarmingly innocent and subtle tone that was written to make the reader quietly question the reality and the morality of the incidents that occur in Antioch, the movie is filmed with such a dark and in-your-face style that it leaves no question as to the deceitfulness of the town's false messiah and his apparent miracles. Travis doesn't need journey into his past to find the truth behind Brandon, as the truth is already quite clear.

But while the emotional weight of the movie may be sorely lacking, the "supernatural thriller" aspect of the movie isn’t executed too poorly. The Visitation moves along at a quick enough pace to keep you engaged in the progression of the story. And throughout its entire length, the movie maintains a consistent pseudo-horror atmosphere that brings to life several scenes from the book in a way that often met and occasionally surpassed my expectations for the film, much to the credit of director Robby Henson.

Unfortunately, the movie sometimes moves so quickly that the plot may not be entirely clear to people who have not already read the book. The Visitation is a story about the dangers of being deceived by false religious doctrine, but that point can be lost on a viewer who is not already familiar with the film’s underlying story. In fact, the first half-hour of the movie tends to be so convoluted that even those people who have read the book may find themselves unsure about what is supposed to be happening.

And that is where we find what is perhaps The Visitation’s greatest inherent problem. When all is said and done, The Visitation is little more than a movie that was made for fans of the book. So if you’ve already read the book, The Visitation movie can make for a half-decent experience over a rainy weekend; but if you haven’t already read the book, you may have a difficult time figuring out the point that the movie is trying to make. And what purpose does any movie serve if you don’t understand it?

Score: 2 1/2 copies of "The Visitation" out of 5

(2 1/2 copies of The Visitation out of 5)