The Visitation (2006)

I honestly think that I could have offered better ideas for adapting this book to film while still keeping it under 2 hrs. The dramatic moments seemed to be focused in the wrong spots. I didn't really care about a dog coming back to life. (which wasn't even in the book)Furthermore, I was disappointed that Morgan Elliot was a veterinarian instead of a Methodist minister. Most of the messages about religion were deflated to appeal to a secular audience. And, in general, I felt that the movie was much darker than it had to be. I understand that it is considered a "thriller," but many of the more humorous characters, such as Dee Baylor, were either merged with other characters or left out completely. I so wanted to see Dee Baylor running down the street after Jim Baylor with a gun in her hands or Penny getting blown up in Don Anderson's appliance shop. For some reason I had imagined lighter moments when I was reading the book. Most of the movie is literally dark; it is either night time or we are stuck in a dark basement or something. And, what was with those lights flickering on and off in the supermarket? It looked like some sort of aliens or monsters were invading. Finally, I have to say something about the unoriginal special effects used when the demons are leaving the bodies. It honestly looks like a sorry attempt to mimic the same effect they used in "The Green Mile." The book is amazing, but this movie is less than spectacular. I really felt like it was a waste of time. Just read the 600 page book!

The Visitation is set in a small American town where a recent spate of God like miracles have cured a crippled man, someones eyesight, healed physical scars & gave the whole town renewed hope. A young man named Brandon Nichols (Edward Furlong) admits he is the source of these miracles & the entire town falls in love with him as he cures their illnesses & ailments. Ex minister Travis Jordan (Martin Donovan) is very sceptical & mistrusting his wife having been murdered three years earlier, he recognises a man who was photographed at his wife's murder scene hanging around Brandon & feels the answer to his wife's unsolved murder may be near. As Travis investigates Brandon & his miracles he realises that Brandon isn't who he claims to be & that his miracles have a sinister reason behind them...Directed by Robby Henson one has to say that The Visitation isn't a totally terrible film but at the same time isn't exactly a great one either, I can't say I particularly liked it but I can't say i particularly hated it either. The script by Brian Godawa & Frank Peretti bases itself around the supernatural & religion which does drown out the horror elements at times, The Visitation isn't that preachy & it doesn't try to convert it's audience to devout Christians but the religious symbolism & themes are clearly there for all to see. At 100 odd minutes in length The Visitation feels a lot longer which is never a good sign, it's a fairly slow going film at times & the film doesn't have much pace. The character's are alright if a little clichéd, I mean the ex minister who has to re-find his faith to stop a great evil? Where The Visitation really falls down is the ending, it's a bit of a mess really & things don't quite come together that well. There are many questions which remain unanswered, the twists are underwhelming & somewhat lazy, the basic plot isn't really explained & when the end credits roll it leaves you feeling a bit cheated.Director Henson does alright, like a lot of films he bleaches almost all of the colour out of certain scenes which gives it a very mute colour palette. For the majority of The Visitation actor Edward Furlong playing Brandon wears a wig which makes him look like he has long hair but at the climax he suddenly appears with a shaven head for no apparent reason. It's never mentioned in the film whether his character was wearing a wig & he just took it off (if so why?) or whether during an evil ritual he just decided to get a hair cut! Strange & it's very noticeable. There's no blood or gore, there's a bit of language & a few cheap scare moments like a dog suddenly appearing at someones window barking it's head off but overall the story is too weak to give you nightmares.According to the IMDb this had a budget of about $2,500,000 which is a hell of a lot of money, I can't really see where it all went to be honest. It looks like any other cheap straight-to-video/DVD release. Apparently filmed in Visalia in California. The acting isn't too bad at all which helps, has Edward Furlong been in a decent film after the brilliant Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)?The Visitation is an average religious themed supernatural horror film, for me I didn't like it that much but it didn't dislike it that much either. I found it all a bit average & forgettable, watch something else like Stigmata (1999) instead which is a better religious supernatural themed horror film.

OK, say it with me: ITS JUST A MOVIE! Anyway, i thought it was freaky, but good! Its made for our entertainment, and i don't hear anyone giving Edward Furlong any kind of recognition, because he did a good job, And By the way, DAMN, Edward Furlong looked hot. Never thought he was very cute, but WOW, he had that evil sexiness going on! Now, of course i live somewhere where i would never, never see him, but if i ever did, i would definitely say that he does not get enough recognition, and regardless of the comments for this movie, it made me DEFINITELY want to see him more. Yumm, yumm! OK, any y the hell do we have to write so much on this thing before it will post your comment, i mean good gravy i wrote a freaken paragraph here!

At the first sight, this is a thriller/horror movie. At least this is what some say about it. Yet, after I saw the beginning, I thought it's rather a religious movie, as the healings depicted are made quite seriously. So I told "ok, here is a religious movie". However, the initially-good guy turns to be evil, while only a couple of persons are able to see that. In the end, some strong Christians are able to show the little town that the healer is not of God, but from Satan. The followers of the faked Messiah are in fact possessed and eventually delivered from evil through the prayers of a Pentecostal preacher. No, don't imagine anything commercial or Robertson-like about it! The scenes are simple and truelike. So I can say this is a Christian movie. My faith has been strenghtened and I recommend the movie to all Christians.