Bayjohn

Considering the talent involved in this project, you would have expected a much better storyline. I know that M. Night Shaymalan's work is unique compared to most modern writers, but this film reaches far out there and is hard for even the most imaginative adult to enjoy. Stories and films about supernatural topics are not for every taste, and therefore I think Mr Shaymalan's writing should not stray too far from reality if he wants to keep viewers (and funding for his films). Bryce Howard's role was an insult, mostly because all she ever does is whisper her lines and parade around nearly naked. I think that fans of Mr Shaymalan will enjoy one sitting of this film, but probably no more than that. Good try, but go back to the drawing (writing) board and try again on the next project.

What starts out as a promising film turns into a huge, inconsistent mess in the second half. The idea for the film was great, but the script is weak at best and the editing is far from helpful. Perhaps too many last minutes changes during filming doomed the production, because what is left is an incomprehensible mess that wants only to shock and not entertain. I think the director would have especially benefited from the method of "sometimes less is more" instead of the excess of gore used in the film. Plus, the actions some of the characters insults the intelligence of the audience member (No! Don't go in there!). Considering the caliber of talent involved in this film, I am really surprised at how bad the end result really is. Sam Neil's character really leaves me scratching my head...

A promising plot and interesting characters all begin with a good start but soon deteriorate into a mess of film. Some of the problems with the film: Strange people outside the church are never really explained or why no one else in the world seems to notice them. Exactly WHY is the devil a swirling pool of green fluid inside a tank? What's with the beetles or roaches consuming the one guy? And the bicycle impaling scene was just plain stupid. I think that if Carpenter had re-edited some of the film and put in a few more scenes that explained things better, this film would have succeeded. As it is, it is worth a late night look, but nothing to add to your film collection. If you want to see a good Carpenter film, rent "Escape From New York" or "The Thing".