Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? No.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? If you’re a fan of the “Left Behind” novels.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 111 minutes (~ 2 hours)
“Left Behind” is a thriller based on the book series of the same name. It’s also a reboot of the Left Behind movie series in the 2000s. It explores a world which experiences the mysterious disappearance of millions of people, and how its remaining survivors deal with the aftermath of this disappearance. It stars Nicholas Cage (Rayford Steele), Chad Michael Murray (Buck Williams), Cassi Thomson (Chloe Steele), and Nicky Whelan (Hattie Durham).
“Left Behind” is based on an interesting premise, which is the Christian Rapture. It thus necessitates a Christian message, which is loud and clear – but the actual explanation for the Rapture is rather thin and unsatisfactory. This makes it confusing as to whether it’s a Christian film, because while the evangelical message is there, the theological backstory and exposition is missing. Disclaimer here: I’m Christian.
So why should you watch “Left Behind?”
The affair between Rayford Steele and Hattie Durham
Of all the relationships in the movie, the affair between the pilot protagonist Rayford Steele and his flight attendant Hattie Durham is the most layered and complex. Not only does Hattie have to deal with the revelation that she is the third party in Rayford’s marriage, right after that they have to deal with the disappearance of passengers on the plane. Her emotional struggle makes her the most sympathetic character of the film.
The suddenness of the Rapture
The disappearance of people around the world happens very, very unexpectedly. And the number of disasters, mourning, and confusion helps cement the reality of such a situation. It adds up to a very chaotic, post-apocalyptic world that the characters must now navigate, if they are to survive the disasters to come.
Unfortunately, “Left Behind” suffers from many, many flaws.
The clumsy dialogue and exposition
In the first Act, almost every character is introduced with a heavy monologue that confirms their background, motivation, and personality. It’s handled in a dull and clumsy way – the characters don’t even pretend to be interested in the exposition, and seem more in a rush to tell the audience all these things about themselves than to actually push the plot forward.
In addition, for the whole of the first Act, each character is always greeted by name. Just so that we’re certain of their names. They don’t both greeting each other by name from Act Two onwards.
Random scares and shocks
At some points, “Left Behind” feels like a horror film because of all the scary surprises dropped on the audience. Loud bangs and characters/objects jump out at you for no reason at all, other than to establish tension, perhaps. But it’s a very awkward way to build suspense, and after a while you’re immune to the sudden shocks that the film throws at you.
Awkward acting
Besides the relationship between Rayford and Hattie, most of the other characters suffer from melodramatic dialogue and actions. While part of this is due to the script, the characters themselves don’t always look very convicted of the things they say. This makes for several unconvincing performances, and thus a lack of empathy for the fates of our protagonists.
“Left Behind” takes a very interesting premise, and proceeds to wreck it with poor acting and strange direction. It’s a pity, because you can see that the story had so much potential to be an insightful but action-packed film. As it stands, it’s barely watchable, and this is one time where you’d probably be better off reading the book.
“Left Behind” opens in cinemas 2 October, 2014.
This review was also published on Yahoo Movies Singapore.
This movie is pretty terrible. If only it relied on/allowed for Nic Cage to just go crazy every five seconds or so. That would have made such a more enjoyable movie. Good review.