Twist of Faith

Okay, this isn't the greatest film of the year, but it's not completely incompetent, and it would be an okay video rental for a cold winter night (which it was when I rented it last night). But the video box has some action photos on the back, including one character holding a sharp instrument to another character's throat. Trouble is, that scene happens at the very end of the movie, after some 90 minutes of speculation about the identity of the killer. The characters may have been speculating on-screen, but home viewers knew the answer before leaving the rental shop.

The movie's about a serial killer whose killings have something to do with religion, and the atheist cop who's trying to stop the killer. Not terribly complex, although it wants to be. But any hint of complexity was eradicated by the video box!

I'd really like to be able to say more about the movie, but it was ruined for me. Remember the trailer for "Ransom", in which THE key plot element--Mel Gibson announces that the ransom is a reward--was revealed? Or the one for "The Negotiator", in which Kevin Spacey announces, "Now you'll have to deal with both of us?" Those films were pretty much ruined by their trailers' giving away the plot...but at least there was a little (VERY little) suspense in seeing the last 30 minutes of each movie.

Not "A Twist of Faith", though. There was no suspense. The very end of the movie was revealed right up front, so all of the this-man-is-above-suspicion and he's-practically-a-saint gyrations were clearly just a waste of the audience's time, until the character gets around to holding a sharp instrument to someone else's throat.

If you decide to see the movie, send someone else to the video shop for you, and have them hand you the tape without the box. Watch it without seeing the box first, and see how you like the movie. I'd like to see viewer comments from anyone who didn't have the entire movie spoiled for him, like I did.

Andrew McCarthy definitely redeems himself as he does his best save this mediocre film. However, it starts off really slow and stays that way for about the first 45 minutes at which point it gets better.

Unlike other movies where elements such as action drama or comedy are there and plot isn't, "A Twist of Faith" is completely different it only has two worth noting, which are plot and mystery. I'm really sorry it lacked the others needed because it would have made for a much better movie.

However good this movie intends to be, it is lacking in areas that would make it worthwhile. If you enjoy good films with good plots then this is the movie for you, otherwise don't bother renting it.

The writer did an excellent job at making everything that was said come together without giving anything away. This plot was unlike one that I have ever seen

A TWIST OF FAITH (aka: BEYOND REDEMPTION) stars Andrew McCarthy as Henry Smith, the lead cop investigating a series of religiously-themed murders. While the deaths continue, we're shown that Henry has problems of his own. He's haunted by tragic past events.

Enter Business executive / philanthropist, Alex Hunt (Michael Ironside), who arouses suspicions in Smith that seem to defy facts or reason. Hunt is a man above reproach in the community.

This is another post-SE7EN thriller with a similar plot. There are some semi-supernatural elements involved that make it lean more toward being a horror film.

McCarthy makes a decent copper, but it's Ironside who makes the movie worthwhile. He just has a way of looking , acting, and just giving off some sort of seething menace. Even when he's just standing around!

A suspenseful mystery with a tense finale...

A cop dealing with his own mistake resulting in a partner's death and loss of faith is on the trail of a serial killer who has some obsession with the Catholic church. Many of the standard themes are there - cop has trouble with supervisor, his own family has trouble, early leads are blind alleys, a special relationship develops between the crook and the cop who hunts him, etc.

There are a few departures from formula as if the film seems to know what we're expecting and chooses to give us that or surprise us with a twist we weren't necessarily expecting. In general, this is certainly not a great movie but entertaining enough to see it through.

I enjoyed the film, and the fact that it aimed rather high in dealing with some sophisticated material. I saw the film in a preview screening, and it wasn't ruined by any silly video boxes that spoiled the ending. The performances were quite good, especially Andrew McCarthy in a more mature roll. I also enjoyed the look of the film which gave it a mysterious, forboding air. I also enjoyed some of the "twists" in the plot, and don't want to give too much away in case other countries' video boxes don't give it all away! The script was a little over the top at times, but I appreciated the fact that the film-makers weren't afraid to challenge the audiences with interesting and puzzling questisons regarding the roll of faith in our world. And, while some might find the ending a little too open-ended, I appreciated the fact that the movie refused to tie everything up neatly with a bow. That's not how life works.