Katherine Winter (Swank) was a missionary in Africa who lost her faith after the death of her husband and daughter. Now she travels the world debunking miracles with her sidekick Ben (Elba). And she's on a 48-for-48 streak when she visits isolated Haven, Louisiana, where Dakota Fanning--I mean, the young Loren (Robb) seems to be summoning the 10 biblical plagues. The local science teacher (Morrissey) he has no answers, while Katherine's former mentor-priest (Rea) is babbling about hellfire and brimstone. Maybe Katherine still has some faith after all.

The film's opening third is fascinating, as it poses questions about religion and belief, sets up eerie parallels between Katherine's past and present, and soaks up the sinister bayou atmosphere. Hopkins is a good enough director to keep us unsettled and curious, while we await the next twist or jolt. So when things start getting well and truly unhinged, we're willing to go with it to a point. But as the story begins to unravel into silliness, we're more likely to laugh than jump.

Swank gives yet another fully committed performance, convincing us that Katherine believes all of this even if we don't. Elba is a terrific presence at her side throughout the story, while Morrissey slithers dully as a charming but suspicious Southern gent. Meanwhile, Robb is superb as the satanic girl with the fiery eyes who causes all the trouble. Even as the film collapses around them, the cast continue to charge forward, almost holding us with them as they go.

It helps that Hopkins so shamelessly lays on the gothic touches--lush shadows, jangling windchimes, lightning storms, mystical ruins, Bible-belt attitudes, bizarre flashbacks and overtones from both The Stepford Wives and Don't Look Now. Not to mention the blood river, frogs, flies, lice, dead livestock, boils, locusts, darkness, fire and death. (The locusts are especially fabulous.) And we can't help but cheer on the barmy wrath-of-God climactic purge. You go girl!

themes, violence, language, sexuality

10.Apr.07