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This movie is perhaps the most entertaining vampire film to hit in twenty years. Not because it's particularly scary, well-written, or convincing, but because it's perfectly entertaining and extremely high-paced! Have FUN when you watch this movie!

I watched this movie with my fiancee after she begged me. I expected to be offended. I was pleasantly surprised. I have to say that this film is the closest thing to a "Christian" movie (with the exception of "Left Behind") to hit the theaters in a long time. "Prince of Egypt" would be a close second, though it was more concerned with the Abrahamic traditions (including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and others) than specifically Christianity. "Stigmata," however, made clever use of Christian concepts as well as popular folklore concerning the Roman Catholic Church, interwoven with excellent pop culture elements. More than that, even with its non-traditional theologies and theorizing, it still portrayed Christianity with a more liberating spirit than I expected. No, I did not agree with most of the ideas pervading the movie. However, the ending of the movie is very powerful, an interesting commentary on modern Christianity.

The quotes from the Gospel of Thomas, an early text not from the mainline Christian lineage (which has given us all our modern denominations) but from an Egyptian man named Didymus Judas Thomas (or Judas the Twin, as Didymus and Thomas are the Greek and Semitic words for twin, respectively) who belonged to a group outcast from the Church for their heretical beliefs, are among the most beautiful in the book and the least controversial. The Gospel of Thomas is filled with statements which are enigmatic and often in opposition to the traditions of the New Testament as has been handed down to us, but these quotes are well-chosen and confrontational (See Thomas 77, Scholars Version).

The entire film is centered around the character, Frankie Paige, who receives the Stigmata. It is definitely a thrilling movie! Do not, however, take it to be either devoid of value for religious faith or a statement of Christianity. This is neither. Clearly, the intent was to entertain people with a religious theme in mind. This is not theologically neutral, but it is not for or against Christianity either. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys thrillers. And fellow Christians, don't be intimidated by the possibility for blasphemy.

Peace!