User reviews

Starting off promisingly with X-Files creepy events (deaths and visions) this young persons horror movie has a suitably tense edge. Based on a myth last discussed in great detail in the 60s, this is a modernised version of the legend of the Mothman, a mysterious figure who comes to people to foretell disastrous events. There is an air of Saturday night channel 5 about this film, but don't let that discourage you as its in the upper echelons of b-movie fair.

Richard Gere is surprisingly entertaining as someone who essentially doesn't say much and just gets creeped-out. A lot. His character isn't that challenging for any actor, so there won't be any Oscar gongs headed his way for this. Laura Linney is excellent as the town sheriff, like someone straight out of Twin Peeks. The other characters are pretty much just there to move the plot along, rather than to catch your interest.

The first half hour or so is entertainingly tense, but then the film lulls for the plot in the middle. The ending is satisfyingly and beautifully tidy, with a wonderful action sequence that clears up the vast majority of the weirdness from earlier on. The tight ending, while pleasurable and final is also one of the reasons that the movie isn't better than it is. There is no sensation upon leaving of question or edge. No concerns about turning the next corner for fear of what might be there. This is perhaps why this movie feels like Channel 5, and perhaps why its a 12 not a 15. Essentially its a creepy movie and not an out and out horror.

The film is simply terrific, fantastic special effects, good plot and a really shocking and surprising ending! This is really a horror film mixed with a thriller that has respected my own perspectives. I suggest it to all the people who liked films like "The sixth sense" and "The others"...It's almost a masterpiece of his genre!

Except for its obvious moments of self indulgence and lethargy, the most of the screenplay's inventive writing was extremely effective. Not only was I emotionally invested, but the film also possessed a hypnotic, surreal quality that kept my eyes and mind transfixed on whatever was unfolding.

I am perplexed as to how works of this quality could remain unnoticed for so long, when works of limited value and output almost always garner the greatest attention from both the public and reviewers. Irrefutably, it is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated psychological thrillers ever.

"In the end it all came down to just one simple question. Which was more important, having proof or being alive? Trust me. I turned away years ago, and I've never looked back."

From the inspired creative mind of writer John Keel comes this dramatic story of the paranormal, called " The Mothman Propheices ". The incident originates with the actual events which took place during the years 1966 and 67, in West Virgina. The strange and eerie tale captured the attention of many avid paranormal investigators and fans of the supernatural alike. The story concerns John Klein (Richard Gere) a serious reporter working for the Washington Post. Believing he has discovered true happiness, he and his wife (Debra Messing) select and purchase a new house hoping to live happily after. Unfortunately, fate intervenes and he mysteriously ends up in West Virgina searching for the original incident concerning the phenomenal legend of the Mothman. Although there is no actual proof of the winged creature, Klein continues to gather all sorts of evidence such as remarkable sightings, appearances and unexplained events. None of which prove the legend or disprove it's manifestations. Finally as he concludes one of manifestations, namely it's ability to predict the future, he is suddenly faced with what to do with the evidence. Harris Mackenzie, Will Patton and David Eigenberg add to the impressive cast and give it a sense of authenticity. An absorbing movie and one which will mesmerize audiences for years to come. ****

I remember when this film was first released there was a lot of marketing hype about how this was " based on a true story " , but what wasn`t pointed out was how this " true story " took place in the 1960s and for some inexplicable reason the producers updated it to the year 2000 or there abouts to the detriment of the story . It may have been difficult enough to believe THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES was a " true story " if it had remained set in the 60s but by placing it at the turn of the millenuim it`s impossible to take seriously . For example after an incident a character is seen calling 911 on a mobile phone something that couldn`t have possibly happened in the 1960s . It`s a bit like SCINDLER`S LIST when you know a scene couldn`t have happened like that and find yourself questioning how much else has been invented

Despite this serious criticism I did like THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES . Okay so I didn`t believe this was a true story but there`s still much to admire . Director Mark Pellington brings a bleak atmosphere to the movie and there`s a couple of scenes that made me jump out of my seat . The cast are fairly good but Gere is inconsistent . Let`s face it , he`s a movie star because of his looks not because he has an abundance of thespian talent , but I`ll give him credit for his performance opposite Debra Messing at the start of the film which both poignant and moving .

So a thumbs up from me because it`s a haunting supernatural drama , even though I take the true story with a big pinch of salt

The Mothman Prophecies is a solid thriller. It's supposedly based on true events, but even if it weren't, it would be worth a look. Richard Gere stars as a Washington Post reporter who inexplicably finds himself in a small West Virginia town where a series of strange goings-on have been happening. His wife was killed two years prior in a mysterious car accident, and there seems to be a connection between her death and the strange happenings in Point Pleasant. Holding the key behind the mystery seems to be a large moth-like creature who tends to show up in places where the loss of human life is about to occur. Gere meets up with several locals who claim to have seen the Mothman, and after a while this creature begins communicating with him. The creature warns people of tragedies about to strike (plane crashes, earthquakes), and Gere thinks this creature can even put him in contact with his dead wife. Gere is given a warning about an upcoming tragedy near Point Pleasant, but can he act in time to stop it? Or should he even try? The film is very moody and sullen. The direction and photography are top drawer, and they enhance the mood greatly. The acting is terrific, as well. I usually can't stand Gere, but he's great in this film. Laura Linney would seem miscast as a local cop, but by the end of the film, she will have proved how truly talented she is. Will Patton is outstanding as a local resident who has several run-ins with the Mothman until it drives him crazy.

What exactly is the Mothman? According to this film, he's some type of oracle. He can see bad things that will happen, and he can even see through to the other side. Does he cause these tragedies? The film would seem to argue not. Though he may have caused the fatal car accident that took Gere's wife early on. Apparently the concept of the Mothman has been around for a while, but this film gives a pretty good explanation of it for those of us who had never heard of it before.

The film came up short of its $40 million budget in theaters. I blame this on a terrible marketing campaign, and some bad reviews from the big name critics. Don't let their reviews scare you away. This film is very good. I was hooked after seeing only a couple minutes of it. It was the very effective scene where Gere and Patton first meet up at his home one evening. That was well done! Be warned, however. The film will likely leave you feeling very mortal, and maybe even depressed. There is a really cool new-age rock song during the credits that also adds to the mood.

Consider this film a thinking man's Final Destination. The climactic scene at the end could have even wandered in from one of those movies. The Mothman Prophecies is worth about 8 of 10 stars.

The Hound.

I am not a skeptic, but I do like to look for the most logical explanations of paranormal events. Skeptics, on the other hand, look for equally preposterous 'real' explanations for stuff that humans perhaps just don't understand.

The Mothman Prophecies is full of mystery and subversion. Some parts of it could be explained, but negated by others. It's far-fetched but directed with such sombre timing that the unbelievable slowly creeps up on you. Ghost stories (yes, I am aware that the Mothman is not a ghost but I don't know what else to call him) are, by their very nature, far-fetched and this is probably why most people are eager to dismiss them. But most people fail to remember that their very existence in this Universe is the most far-fetched thing of all. There is an infinity out there than man does not/will never understand. It's arrogance to think that we've got our world figured out already and dismiss anything that doesn't fit in with our day to day lives.

So yes, I am inclined to believe in stuff like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Skunk Ape and Little Green Men. Like the movie said, the Mothman has appeared in scriptures and literature of many cultures worldwide for thousands of years. Apparently the book on which the movie is based has more stories of strange happenings and info on Indrid Cold (who is probably the most puzzling, enigmatic character since the Mystery Man from Lost Highway), so it's perhaps a good idea to check it out if you were intrigued by the movie.

Director Mark Pellington creates a spooky and haunting Xmas atmosphere and uses the widescreen frame brilliantly. Occasionally he'll throw in a subliminal shot of the Mothman (sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle) or use bizarre imagery to heighten the sense of dread or mystery. It's very well edited and has a lot more class and sophistication than many recent corny PG-13 'horrors' like The Skeleton Key or The Forgotten. In many respects, Mothman is a lot like The Ring in terms of moody atmosphere and cryptic messages. But Mothman, while not a perfect film, is certainly the better of the two.

My main problem is that nothing is really wrapped up. I mean I know it cannot be fully explained because no one knows what the Mothman is or who Indrid Cold was but maybe there was more explained or suggested in John A. Keel's book (the man who Richard Gere's character was based on) than the movie featured.

Overall, it's a pretty good film and I look forward to Mark Pellington's next movie as I've been impressed with his work on this and Arlington Road so far.

The Mothman Prophecies is a creepy thriller that doesn't make as big as an impact as you would expect. Based on true events, the film examines a series of inexplicable occurrences through the eyes - and mind - of one man played by Richard Gere. The plot sounds creepy and the fact that its based on true events sure makes it more engaging. The film looks and sounds scary as well and there are a few scenes that are bound to get underneath your skin. The film is still kind of disappointing as they don't really explain the movie so well and your left with too many unanswered questions. Sometimes its hard to take the movie seriously as there are some scenes that don't make sense or that the scene kind of feels like a joke. Like said before though, the film should still creep underneath your skin. Richard Gere stars and he gives a very good performance. He makes up for starring in that awful film called Autumn in New York. Laura Linney also does a good and these two really keep the film moving. Mark Pellington directs and he does a good job of keeping the film at a nice pace and making the film look creepy. The ending was done decently and it sure makes you think about what happens. The Mothman Prophecies will leave its mark on you and you may have trouble getting it out of your head when its time to go to sleep. The film is almost two hours long so you may start to get bored if you find the film to be stupid. Pretty much if you like the X-Files or The Forgotten then you should enjoy this thriller. The Mothman Prophecies may not be top notch thriller but its still worth checking out and will make a good rental to watch at night. Rating 6.7/10 a sometimes scary thriller that's worth checking out.

Bizarre, well-made supernatural thriller is all the more chilling for the fact that it's rooted in actual events.

Washington reporter ends up in a small West Virginia town where a strange entity is foretelling of a disaster.

Although many critics harpooned this film for its seemingly aimless storyline, it's really a forgivable thing since Mothman is such an atmospheric and slickly-directed film. The direction is artistically stunning, with lots of colorful and frightening visuals. The atmosphere is solidly dark and mysterious, with a number of truly spooky sequences - particularly Gere's phone call from the Mothman. And despite the fact that everything is not explained to us up front, after all who could place logic to this strange true story, the film is a pretty decent gripper. The grand climax is especially dramatic!

The cast is fairly good, star Richard Gere probably being the best as our bewildered hero. The filming locations are good and the moody soundtrack is quite effective.

For those who like their thrillers a touch on the X-Files side, The Mothman Prophecies is a terrific choice.

*** 1/2 out of ****

A Washington journalist loses his wife to an auto accident and becomes intrigued by the strange angel-like images she drew while dying in her hospital bed.

The world of film can take any approach to "real" events it wants as long as it wants to be honest and aboveboard about things. This product is very dishonest in that it wants to play on a real tragedy, but spins so much fiction around it that it might as well be a complete work of fiction. Like presenting the sinking of the Titanic as an act of sabotage just because we know there was such a boat and it did sink!

Richard Gere is actually a pretty good actor when he is trying. Here he seems only half interested and I have sympathy with him because I would have been the same with this quality of material. Something is happening, but he doesn't know what, but it seems extra terrestrial. However is it a work for good or a force for evil? Puzzled brows all round and no one talk to about it other a small town female cop who thinks he is crazy!

Not a great film by any means because there isn't enough happening and too much of what does happen makes little real-world sense. Yes we have a good climax, but that hardly makes up for the clunky and nonsensical route to it. Yes, it creates its own atmosphere, but it takes more than a load of half-lit scenes and weird goings-on to entertain me. That is why I never watch the X Files in the first place.

I saw this film at a free screening at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. I was really looking forward to seeing it because I thought this director's first film "Arlington Road " was one of the best of that year's films. I was sadly disappointed in this movie. The only reason I didn't walk out was because the director and alot of his cast and crew were at the screening and I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I did, however, slip out during the end credits, because I needed a good stiff drink to wake me up after this turkey. In fact, the only thing that kept me from sleeping through the entire movie was the constantly ringing telephones and alarm clocks that keep waking Richard Gere up throughout the film. I don't know what went wrong here, but I sure hope Mark Pellington is not a one-film wonder. In my opinion, this movie should never have been released. It's that bad.

(**** out of *****)

What a wonderful and rich role for Gere who should maybe experiment more in movies that deal with the realms of the unknown.

A much respected reporter for the Washington Post John Klein (Richard Gere) is about to have his life turned upside down when his wife dies in an automobile accident that seems to have been caused by a mysterious flying creature which he never did see himself. The plot takes Gere to the Ohio/West Virginia border where he meets with the local residents who all seem to be having their troubles with strange lights, weird phone calls and a bird like creature which they call the Mothman. Klein investigates the mystery at the cost of his own sanity and career.

The film is very scary but lacks the pace and fibre that made the John A. Keel's book an awe inspiring read. There are no Men In Black, UFO's, alien impregnated women, phone tapings or a clear resolution to some of the character's fate. In fact only about 10% of the book is actually reproduced in the film. The other 90% seems to have been plucked from an episode of the `X-files'... but what a good episode it is! This is a film that has high production values. The lighting, camerawork, sound and editing are always on top form which is something that prevents the movie from disappearing into the ranks of science fiction B movie hokum. `The Mothman Prophecies' looks simply `weirdly' gorgeous on the big screen.

There is not enough Mothman revealed to the viewer but country folk Gordon Smallwood (the well cast and superbly acted Will Patton) creates a much needed conduit into the effects that the Mothman has on the people of Point Pleasant and this is what the film is really all about - The consequences that the supernatural can have on the psyche of a small backward town's population. Although the ending is Mothman free it certainly does jolt the emotions and evokes a sort of belittling sympathy for the human beings of this planet.

Watch this film and then go read the book for a much better look at really went on. All in all, the film is a spine-chilling riveting stuff and well worth repeated viewing even though it never truly escapes its `X-Files' feeling.

"Mothman Prophecies" does not try to be a horror movie which I appreciated. But it also isn't a great drama, it's sort of in-between genres. Little happens for much of the film, and I felt he did too much driving around to other cities, and I didn't like the part about him supposedly teleporting, or forgetting how he got somewhere. I would rather the film covered more of the material in the book and kept the lead as more of a straight-man character to all the spookiness around him. But perhaps that is what really happened to John Keel, I don't know. Perhaps it shows that the researcher, investigator, or viewer cannot observe these phenomena without affecting them and/or being affected by them. Such assertions have been empirically proven in physics experiments. Our importance as humans, as cognitive viewers, with perhaps even transcendental souls or spirits, cannot be ignored.

We as humans affect the environment more than we realize just by being us, and I'm not just referring to tangibles such as pollution. Carl Jung postulated in a collective unconscious informing and influencing each of us, but if we can download info from the cloud so to speak, could we not be uploading info as well, perhaps even in our sleep. Thus our existence on earth could be more influential than we know. Also note some of the dates related to Mothman show how the human calendar is of importance to the other-world. The bridge collapsed 13 months to the day from the first big sighting. 11/15/1966 - 12/15/1967. It is also interesting to research older events around Point Pleasant relating to Chief Cornstalk and his curse; he was executed 11/10/1777 by American soldiers.

Overall, this film does a decent job of covering a difficult ethereal subject. I preferred the book to the movie, but the movie is still worth a watch. The highlight of the film is when Keel speaks to Leek ('Keel' backwards, his persona is split into two parts speaking to each other for the listeners' benefit). The dialogues with Leek are excellent and worth watching. My rating 6/10.

John (Richard Gere) and Mary Klein (Debra Messing) are happily married and about to buy a house. Then he sees a vision and crashes the car. Two years after her car crash death, John is driving but loses track and get stranded in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Strange things have been happening there. Gordon (Will Patton) have had visions, and sheriff Connie Mills (Laura Linney) is trying to make sense of it all.

This is a slow atmospheric moody movie. I like the dark mood, but it moves a little too slow. The problem is that the final reveal is not as compelling as the build up telegraphs. The action is not big enough or exciting enough. It's too chaotic to follow. And there is nothing he could do to predict the outcome anyways. So the ending is very random. And the whole true story is questionable at best.

The Mothman Prophecies is a good thriller that really surprises. Saspence is quite competent to apply, plus with the place of action writers guessed.

John Klein (Richard Gere), a Washington Post reporter, finds himself somehow drawn to a small town in West Virginia. In fact, his car dies, along with his cell phone and watch. He knocks on a nearby house to call for help, and the man who answers the door attacks him, saying Klein's been around three days in a row. But has he?

Two years earlier, John's wife died from injuries sustained in a car wreck, and before she died, in an apparent delirium, she had been etching weird drawings. Could her drawings have some connection with this town?

Based on true events, The Mothman Prophecies follows John through his search for the truth. People in the town report seeing a strange being - are they lying, or are they misinterpreting? Are they simply seeing UFOs, or is there more to the story? Intrepid reporter that he is, John wants to know more - although of course his thirst for knowledge is accompanied by a need to know what happened to his wife (why did the car crash?).

Thrillers such as this one are hard to come by. It's not exactly a horror movie, but there are more than enough creepy moments to send a few chills reverberating through your body. It's a film that relies less on special effects than on such quaint ideals as character motivation and development and atmosphere. In fact, this movie's just brimming with atmosphere. We've all seen those cheesy movies in which a car runs out of gas along a desolate country road, and then BAM - some serial killers make dinner or belts out of the hapless occupants. But in this case, the monster is hardly ever seen, thereby heightening the scares.

At the centerpiece is Gere as Klein. I've never, ever been a Gere fan; it seems to me he has one expression. He's never been terribly emotive and has been known in recent years more for the age disparity with his female costars than for anything else (they get younger, he stays the same old dude). Call him ruggedly handsome if you will, but vacuity is never really appealing.

But this is not your typical Gere at all. He definitely turns in the best work of his career. Sure, he was appealing in Pretty Woman, but it was Julie Roberts' movie. Officer and a Gentleman? Ok, but that was Lou Gosset Jr.'s movie. Primal Fear? Red Corner? Runaway Bride? No, no, no. This is acting on a ledge for Gere. It's a true departure from the romantic comedies and the sly psuedo-mystery/dramas. Ordinarily, I would think such a movie would expose Gere for the terrible actor he is. But I would be wrong. This movie was so well written and directed that Gere rose to its level, rather than sinking it. That's a huge credit to him as an actor.

Now, I need to differentiate between good acting and appeal. An actor can look good or be charming in a role and still be a bad actor; by contrast, an actor can look uncharming and turn in a great performance. But what's key is how the actor draws the audience in - do they sympathize with his plight? Are they on his side? How good of an actor he is will answer that question.

Gere's Klein starts out as an average joe, and then we get to see him slowly descend into madness - we even descend a little with him. That vaunted atmosphere is so vibrant and realistic that we turn when he turns and feel things he feels. This is an absolute hallmark of excellent filmmaking (by Mark Pellington, whose only other big film was 1999's Arlington Road). The writing is crisp and eminently believable, and the acting in addition to Gere (including Laura Linney, Debra Messing, and Will Patton) is simply superb. And don't forget the prophecies part of the title, either; this "Mothman" entity issues warnings to whomever it deems worthy. Which sounds good, as long as one can interpret them correctly. Apparently, many have not.

The story is based on actual events that took place in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, but this is no Amityville Horror story. With Amityville, one could distance oneself from the experiences of the family involved; we could say that it would never happen to us, it was only a movie. This is a little trickier with The Mothman Prophecies. It's a creepy, tingly movie that gets under your skin and crawls all over your heart.

A prestigious journalist called John Klein : Richard Gere is very deranged due to the recent death of his beloved wife due to a weird vision. Later, John discovers an assortment of mysterious drawings which she created before her death, depicting a strange black winged creature she saw on the night of the accident. It leads him to a fantastic investigation resulting in fateful consequences . What do you see?. Based on true events !.

A Horror thriller with chills , intrigue , plot twists and fantastic happenings . The film displays an attractive developing , in which thriller , terror , fantasy go on in crescendo until the unpredictable final. The pic is based on real events that occurred between late 1966 and late 1967 in Point Pleasant , West Virginia . Main and support cast are pretty good . Stars Richard Gere as the Washington Post reporter who becomes involved into strange events . Being well accompanied by a fine cast , such as : Laura Linley , Will Patton, Debra Messing , Yvonne Erickson, , and veteran Alan Bates.

It contains a frightening , chilling and sensitive musical score by Tomandandy . As well as colorful and dark cinematography by cameraman Fred Murphy . The motion picture was competently directed by Mark Pellington. He is a prestigious producer and director, known for , Mothman (2002) , Going All the Way (1997) , Jerry Maguire (1996) and this Arlington Road (1999). But, preferably dedicated to television in series as Cold Case , The Enemy Within , Star Trek: Short Treks, Blindspot , and videoclips , in fact he won an MTV Video Music Award for directing the Pearl Jam video, "Jeremy". Arlington Road rating : 7/10 . Better than verage . Well worth watching . The yarn will appeal to Richard Gere fans.

There's a good 5 minute story buried in this subjectively shot movie that tries too hard and utterly fails to scare. I was filled with dread as the credits appeared over a meaningless running shot of office fluorescent lights and close-ups of everyday, irrelevant, inherently unscary objects. As the film progresses we get more irrelevant close-ups, disorienting angles, hand-held camera shots, rapid editing and fast drum-beat soundtrack. And more close-ups. Soon you'll be wishing you took some dramamine. The movie tries to make EVERYTHING scary, with the result that nothing seems scary. There are a few standard "jolts" when something appears out of nowhere - the usual filmic way of saying "Boo." But after a dozen times of the now-cliche camera zooming to and away from a character, the panicked look he's left with seems probably caused by a sudden camera in the face rather than a ghost. The creepiest-potential moment when Indrid Cole (aka Kindred Spirit?) phones our hero is dissipated by the excessive layering of visuals. Soon any plot or sense of realism is lost - what about our hero's job? what day or night is it? what does he do most of the time in Point Pleasant? why and how does his initial meeting with a young couple happen at night in the quarry instead of the day, and do they really mention all the sexual details we see as they relate their mothman encounter? All the irrelevent camera shots encourage the viewer to ponder irrelevent questions: Is that little guy in the sound lab making a music CD of his glass-lip rubbing? Do ethereal mothfolk really leave slime when hit by a car, and are there accident attorney mothpeople that represent them in mothcourt? To make something creepy or uncanny you need some realism to subvert, as one can see in "One step beyond" and "Xfiles." By becoming more and more erratic, this movie not only seems unbelievable but manages to undermine the credibility of the real events.

I didn't love the movie the first time I watched it. But sometimes (and with some other shows and movies happened) I revisit a movie and I must change my point of view. This is a grower, a truly atmospheric, classic thriller that sinks in your mind. Great!

I recently rewatched this movie in the spirit of halloween and was not dissapointed.

A reporter played by Gere gets dragged into the mystery of the Mothman, a mythical creature that mysteriously appears before a disaster occurs. Klein (Gere's character) desperately searches for answers as to what the Mothman's prophecies could mean. The movie slowly escalates the tension as we watch Klein try and peice together the clues given to him about an impending doom, that he may or may not be able to stop.

Rewatching this movie led me to different questions and conclusions as to what it is that is happening in the movie, I found that to be highly entertaining and would recommend this one to anyone who likes suspenseful x-files type mysteries.

While very impressionable audiences will be filled with dread by the brooding violins or pulse-racing drum-machine soundtrack, and the frequent camera pans of odds and ends or backs of people's heads, nothing materializes to be scary. The two antagonists, the mothman apparition and the prognosticating phone caller (who are never definitely proved to be the same entity) don't intentionally cause harm. The mothman is only shown vaguely in flashbacks, and just plays peeping tom. The phone caller isn't some psycho calling to announce his future crimes, he's more like the weatherman, and no one blames bad weather on the weatherman. So what's left besides the usual filmic scare tactics that lead nowhere, without even a plot or coherent story to fall back on? An exciting climax? The suspenseful 'can-we-prevent-the-prophecy-from-happening?' ending was much better done in "The Night has a 1000 eyes." "The Mothman Prophecies" races into increasing chaos, without style or content, shot and edited without any human rhythm, which suggests a real moth was directing. It's no surprise that it induces motion sickness. The only discernible thread running through this is our hero's car which, aside from stalling out once, can hit an ethereal mothman, can travel 500 mile in 2 hours, and survive a collapsing bridge. I predict that in 2003 Ford will debut a new model, the Ford Mothman Explorer.