28. COUNTDOWN TO OBLIVION: Watch a race-against-timer. Oh, the strain…
The Rapture
As a pupil of erotic thrillers, I maintain camp classics like Poison Ivy, Eyes of Laura Mars, Crash, Heavenly Creatures, Flowers within the Attic, and any movie by Brian De Palma in excessive regard. I assumed that The Rapture would fall according to my love of melodramatic stylized trash, however I used to be flawed. The movie begins as a steamy erotic thriller earlier than rapidly pivoting to a survival movie, then lastly to a Biblical epic.
Regardless of the movie following Sharon (performed by Mimi Rogers), a younger Los Angeles lady who enjoys a scandalous swinging life-style, essentially the most surprising factor that occurs within the first thirty minutes is that David Duchovny drops trou. It’s the second half—full of cult members, melodramatic little one actors, brutal violence, and non secular imagery that makes this movie distinctive. Very similar to the buzzy field workplace hit The Substance, this movie goes far past the place you suppose it can and, frankly, the place it most likely ought to.
On the danger of spoiling this deliciously unpredictable plot, I’ll hold it transient. Sharon kisses her swinging life-style goodbye and converts to born-again Christianity after changing into satisfied that the rapture is coming. After settling into the godly lifetime of monogamy and beginning a household, tragic occasions and mysterious goals lure her out to the desert to attend for the approaching rapture. Sharon and her younger daughter Mary survive within the desert with the assistance of a neighborhood police officer who brings them sweet bars. That’s, till Sharon turns into hasty to ascend to heaven, deciding to kill her daughter after which herself to hurry up the method. Let’s simply say this doesn’t pan out the way in which she hopes.
Don’t get me flawed, this film is just not what I’d name a “good” film. Nonetheless, director Michael Tolkin takes refreshing dangers by questioning the road between Christianity and delusion.
The Stranger is taking part in Scarecrow Video’s Psychotronic Problem all month lengthy! Each October, Scarecrow places collectively a listing of cinematic themes and invitations people to comply with alongside and watch a horror, sci-fi, or fantasy flick that meets the factors. This 12 months, Stranger staffers are becoming a member of the enjoyable and we’re sharing our every day suggestions right here on Slog! Learn extra about Scarecrow’s 2024 problem—and get the watch checklist—right here. And you’ll observe our every day suggestions right here! 💀
