“The Reaping – The Messengers of the Apocalypse” is perhaps not the most spectacular and certainly not the best movie with a doomsday scenario. However, the work of “The Ghost and the Darkness” director Stephen Hopkins is always good for pleasant horror coupled with guesswork about the outcome of the story. In addition to Marvel star Idris Elba and two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Boys Don’t Cry”), there are a few other capable actors to be seen.
“The Reaping” will air today, April 5, 2023, at 10 p.m. on Tele 5. If the mid-week date is too late for you, the movie is available from online stores like Amazon as Blu-ray and DVD. The FSK 16 title is also available there as video-on-demand for a fee.
As we confirm in our FILMSTARTS review with an average rating of 2.5 stars, “The Reaping” is not a true standout in the horror and/or apocalypse thriller genre. Although the story literally wrestles through the blood, there are simply too few drastic scary moments. However, if you like atmosphere and aesthetic photos, you can still get your money’s worth. Director Stephen Hopkins and cinematographer Peter Levy (“Predator 2”), teaming up with score composer John Frizzell (“Alien 4”) offer something worthwhile.
Swank and Elba, who work well as opposing pairings, are fun too. She is joined by a number of other well-known actors in The Crying Game Oscar nominee Stephen Rea, The Walking Dead villain David Morrissey and then child star AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia).
By the way, The Reaping was filmed in Louisiana in 2005. In the middle of work, the infamous hurricane Katrina and devastated large parts of the American state. Filming had to be suspended for weeks, so the producers considered moving to California. However, Hilary Swank and other key members of the cast and crew insisted on remaining in Louisiana so that the region, which was also hit hard economically, could continue to benefit from their presence, including taxes.
“The Reaping” on Tele 5: That’s the story
Dr Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank) is a college professor devoted to science. The former missionary renounced her once-strong Christian faith after suffering a traumatic personal loss. She has even made it her mission to conclusively refute so-called miracles and other religious phenomena all over the world.
Whether it’s a blood-crying image of the Madonna, mold spots showing the face of Jesus, or people with stigmata wounds on the hands and feet, Katherine has exposed them all as sham or dream images.
Teacher Doug Blackwell (David Morrissey) asks her to investigate bizarre happenings in his village in the Louisiana swamps, but he fears little Loren (AnnaSophia Robb), whom the residents hold responsible. Katherine goes out with her colleague Ben (Idris Elba) and encounters not only a blood-red river full of dead fish, but also several other mysterious incidents that resemble Old Testament plagues and doomsday scenarios…
*