Title:
The
Last Sin Eater.
Rating: PG-13.
Film Companies: FoxFaith,
The Bigger Picture.
Cast: Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Picket Fences, Aurora
Borealis), Henry Thomas (E.T., Gangs of New York, Moby Dick, Suicide Kings), Soren Fulton, Liana Liberato, Peter Wingfield (Highlander: The Series, X2: X-Men United),
Lisa Lackey (Heroes, Just Cause, NYPD Blue), A. J. Buckley (Silent Warnings, Happy
Feet, Extreme Days, The X-Files), Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, Stewart Finlay-McLennan
(Christy), Valerie Wildman, Thea Rose, Kim Myers (The Pretender, Serenity, The Dust
Factory), Anne Cullimore Decker, Parker Hadley, Stefania Barr, Molly Jepson, Nick
Praggastis, Michael Flynn.
Crew: Michael Landon Jr. (Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Editor), Brian
Bird (Screenwriter, Producer), Francine Rivers (Author), Robert Gros (Producer),
Brian Matthews (Executive Producer), William E. Mapp III, Hamied Arvand, Rob Wallstrom
(Co-Executive Producers), Robert Seaman (Director of Photography), Eric Weiler (Production
Designer), Mark McKenzie (Music), Nancy Cavallaro (Costume Designer), Victoria Burrows,
Scot Boland (Casting), Eric Weiler, Don Hauer (Co-Producers), John Wierick, Shelley
Wierick (Associate Producers).
Synopsis: In the Appalachians there is a tradition of an outcast
who eats the sins of an individual after they die - taking upon themselves those
sins. A young girl desires this redemption for herself but in the process discovers
a dark secret that threatens to tear your family asunder.
Theatrical Release: Completed.
DVD Release: April 13, 2007.
Review: The Last Sin Eater is based upon
a novel by Francine Rivers, a prolific Christian author. It was directed by Michael
Landon Jr., best known as the "son of Michael Landon" - that is, Pa in Little House
on the Prairie. He has established himself in his own right as a successful director
with four movies released through Hallmark based upon novels by Janette Oake (Love
Comes Softly, Loves Enduring Promise, etc.). Sadly, The Last Sin Eater
fails to keep up with this proud heritage.
For the first half of the movie the film seems to drag on. There
is minimal character development which allows the viewer to have little sympathy
for the sufferings of the character. There is conflict, but it seems childish and
corny. This may have been out of a misdirected desire to create a "family film."
In the end, however, it fails at both. The suffering is too corny to please today's
audiences and at the same time it is too frightening and mature for young children.
In the second half of the film, the intensity picks up significantly.
Still, if it hadn't been a Christian film I probably would have turned it off after
the first fifteen minutes, and even if I had waded through half the movie there
would still be a good chance that I would turn it off, I just failed to be enthralled
by storyline or the unraveling mysteries.
In the end, the story reveals itself to have depth, to conjure
up great sadness, and to have great power. This is probably a testament to the writing
prowess of Francine Rivers...But as a film, in the end, it fails.
For those who consider that a film can only be a presentation
of the gospel verbally and explicitly in order to be a Christian film the film will
be extremely pleasing. The entire thrust of the film is an allegorical illustration
of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus, and towards the end the gospel is verbally
and explicitly explained. I, for one, insist that film must be art, and that the
gospel may be weaved into film but cannot be an excuse to fail as art. Rather, it
should be a means of lifting art to the highest heights.
If I had to rate The Last Sin Eater on a 10 point scale,
I would rate it a 4-6. On the one hand, it feels unworthy of viewing. On the other
hand, it has moments of strength that feel passionate and moving. As you can see
from this review, I am in turmoil in my own soul over this film.
Bibliography:
Louise Fletcher.
Henry Thomas.
Peter Wingfield.
Lisa Lackey.
A. J. Buckley.
Stewart Finlay-McLennan.
Kim Myers. |
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