La septième prophétie

The picture concerns a pregnant woman (an actually pregnant Demi Moore) living with her husband (Michael Biehn). She realizes the strange boarder (Jurgen Prochnow) at home and the fantastic goings-on happening are united to the ¨Book of Revelation¨ and some prophecies connected to her unborn son . She gets drawn into a cobweb of mysterious events . Nowadays , she only can stop the destruction of the world like is said in ¨The commentaries of the Apocalypse of Saint John¨. All around the world various signs emerge from Biblic omens . A Vatican emissary priest (Peter Friedman) is dedicated to investigate the bizarre deeds . As the seals have been broken. The prophecies have begun. Now only one woman can halt the end of our world. An ancient evil has been awakened and there is nothing you can do to stop it... except pray.

It's a spiritual triller skillfully narrated with bit action but quite entertaining . Strikingly designed and well paced with little exterior scenarios , being exception for the frozen village and African outdoors . This polished film provides chills , supernatural events and thrills in lively mystery . It's rich and dark , though confusing , at times . The film belongs to supernatural prophecy sub-genre (along with : ¨The omen¨and its sequels , ¨The Body¨ , among others) . Good main and support cast , even Ellen DeGeneres played a bit role, but it was cut from the film before releasing . Esoteric musical score and excessive use of synthesizer by composer Jack Nitzsche (Starman , Jewel of Nile , Razor's edge) . Colorful cinematography full of shades and lights by excellent Spanish cameraman Juan Ruiz Anchia (Close range , House of game , River runs black) . The motion picture was well directed by Carl Schulz (a regular television picture director) . It's one of the most unusual supernatural movies from the 80s and certainly one of the most unsettling .

In Haiti, the sea and the life-form die; in the Middle East, a town is frozen. These are signs of the Apocalypse and the Vatican is investigating, but Father Lucci (Peter Friedman) advises that these omens are hoax or technologically explained. In California, the housewife Abby Quinn (Demi Moore) is pregnant and the delivery is scheduled to February, 29 in a leap year. Her husband, the lawyer Russell Quinn (Michael Biehn), is defending a weird case of the teenager Jimmy Szaragosa (John Taylor) that killed his parents telling that he was following the Word of God. Meanwhile Abby rents a garage apartment to the mysterious David Bannon (Jürgen Prochnow). The hopeless Abby has strange nightmares and soon she finds that around the world there are signs of the Apocalypse in accordance with the Book of Revelation. She learns also that David Bannon is Jesus that has returned; Father Lucci is the Pilate's porter Cartaphilus that was doomed to wander on Earth for the eternity; and she is a woman that tried to help Jesus. Further, she is the Seventh Sign and the Apocalypse will happen when her baby is stillborn. What can she do to save her unborn son and mankind?

"The Seventh Sign" is an original film about Apocalypse, with a complex story. There are flaws that should have been explained, such as Abby let a stranger in her house when she was alone, but it seems that she has already discussed with him the rental. Invinting him for dinner is part of etiquette and politeness with the tenant. Curiosity killed the cat and explains her behavior snooping around his apartment. There are many other criticism to this film, but if the viewer do not pay attention to the flaws, he or she will find an enjoyable supernatural movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Sétima Profecia" ("The Seventh Prophecy")

"The Seventh Sign" is an intelligent and atmospheric horror film, although "religious thriller" would probably be a more apt description. It is has many creepy moments, and what's interesting is that the fear caused by the film is God-inspired, unlike so many films in the genre. This is a movie that has a thoroughly disturbing tone, the same level of pervading dread that made "The Exorcist," "The Omen," and the underrated Roman Polanski film, "The Ninth Gate" so successful. The acting and writing are solid; there are good performances from Demi Moore and Michael Biehn. Peter Friedman is excellent as a tortured priest. If you're in the mood for a thought-provoking thriller, check out "The Seventh Sign."

Let me say this right off the bat: I'm not usually a fan of religious films. Although The Seventh Sign has heavy undertones, I can't help but love it for being a really well crafted, atmospheric thriller that let's it's fantastic cast go to some truly tough emotional places, that would still be captivating in a film without religious roots. Demi Moore, who I've always loved a lot, plays Abbey Quinn, a tortured girl whose pregnancy only brings forth dark memories from her past and troubles her more. As ominous biblical signs intrude on her benign everyday life, a charismatic, intense stranger (Jurgen Prochnow) rents a room from her, and right away we know he ties into the phenomena somehow. Prochnow rarely gets a chance to play outside of the Soviet terrorist psychopath prototype, but here he brings sincerity, depth and a warm heart to a role that isn't easy to play without lookin like a preachy moron. Michael Biehn give a fiercely touching turn as Abbey's husband, a realist who finds himself out of his element with the supernatural elements that begin to creep into his life. Biehn has a scene at the end that he just nails, and is a highlight of his career. All religious paraphernalia aside though, the themes presented, about sacrifice, love, and finding the one tiny ray of hope in a world cluttered with scum and degenerates are concepts that can be universally applied to any story, be it Christian or not. It's a moody, exciting, heartfelt film that's well worth checking out.

After watching this movie at a family friend's home without checking the IMDb score it occurred to me that I was brainwashed to think that the score is always right.

Until now, I'd see a movie with a low IMDb score, watch it and found it dumb, not worthy of my time. Then, I'd see one with a high IMDb score and I'd like it. This is a unique, triumphant moment for me because, for the first time since the 9th grade when I started to follow the score (now I'm the 12th), my rating proved to be significantly different than the average rating!

I'm still aware of some major plot-holes and breaches in logic (and there are many I'm not yet aware of) but It was one heck of a ride and I've enjoyed it so much that I'll give this movie...

An 8 out of 10.

Oh, and I've loved Demi Moore.