Deceived

The script is bad, the acting substandard and melodramatic, the budget was probably way up in the 4 or maybe 5 digit range. Even so, I've seen worse. Just because it happens to offer the perspective of a Christian doesn't make it as horrible as so many other reviewers seem to think.

There are other movies that preach "New Age" beliefs and aren't treated this poorly. Is it possible that people are letting their beliefs taint the reviews just a little? Yes this IS a bad movie, but some people actually do enjoy watching them. Why not just enjoy it for the poor qualities you would judge any other film?

As for whether its Sci-Fi, I've seen Ghost, The Flintstones and The Mainitou listed under Sci-Fi. Unfortunately an argument could be made for their inclusion. Now if there were an accepted category of Christian movies I might agree with moving this there. There isn't, so why quibble? Again just look at it like any other B movie and get off the Anti-Christian rhetoric.

I gave 'Left Behind' a chance and didn't get 30 minutes into it. In that movie the acting was horrid and the situations strained to become credible. So, it was with great reluctance that I came to 'Deceived'. This time the acting wasn't horrid and the situations didn't try so hard to beat me over the head. In fact, this was no better or worse than an average X-files episode including the speculative ending. The Christian message was inserted here and there but it seemed to become part of the story rather than try to take over the story. There are logic gaps that need explaining. It was nothing too distracting though and if you accept this as a standard B-pic you can actually sit back, relax and be entertained.

This pretty much fits into the realm of the B budget sci-fi category. The brand name actors do an ok job but they fall victim to the script at hand. I would advise most people to avoid this film since they probably don't have the appetite for the preachings put forth in the film.

Before seeing this movie, I had no idea that a Christian Film genre even existed. I will probably not sleep well tonight knowing that it does. It's not nice to sugarcoat your brainwashing, people.

It's a shame this film couldn't maintain the edgy intrigue of its first twenty minutes or so. Instead, it unravels to the point where the title might refer to the viewer who was expecting some kind of payoff for investing their time in watching it.

The idea of the signal and the question of its origin is a sturdy enough hook to hang a plot upon. The story is not the problem, but the means that are employed to tell it certainly are. The first sign of trouble is when the military shows up at the observatory. Naturally a storm soon follows - is there some rule in Hollywood that people must always be trapped in remote locations by thunderstorms? Once the debate about the signal starts...it goes on..and on, for almost the entire movie. For folks who are stuck in a tense situation far from anywhere and who don't trust each other, the characters act remarkably calm and there is far too much talking and too little action. One of the biggest mysteries is why for such an important character - she's the only one with overt psychic ability - the part of Vasquez is so woefully underwritten. It seems that she has only two lines in the whole movie - a total waste of a very fine, sultry performance by Ramona Milano.

Gossett Jnr is passable as the army honcho - it's not like he hasn't had previous experience in such a role - but the only other solid acting comes from Judd Nelson, who gives a workmanlike performance as Jack (not Jake!) Jones. He valiantly tries to carry the film for its duration, but the tepid script sinks his efforts. It doesn't help that Michelle Nolden's performance as the devout love interest fails on practically every level. Most of the other leads fall into stereotype - feisty female reporter - or caricature - the preacher who likes his food.

Basically, this film is such a disappointment that you might be well advised to send a signal of your own to the TV set - and watch something else!

Released to video in 2002 and directed by Andre Van Heerden, "Deceived" is a sci-fi/drama in the mold of 1997's "Contact" or 2003's "Alien Hunter" except that it's decidedly a 'B' production with several comic book caricatures rather than characters. Although, thankfully, there are a few likable and realistic characters, like the ones played by Michelle Nolden and Judd Nelson. The story centers around seven people who meet at a remote observatory in the mountains after contact from (presumably) space has finally been made. But something weird and eerie is going on and they might not make it out alive.

While this is a Christian production, the ideology doesn't become a factor in the story until the third act and it ties into the reality behind the strange phenomena happening at the observatory. The production quality is akin the the typical comic booky Syfy movie, but without any palpable monster. As noted above, at least three of the characters are over-the-top caricatures -- the new ager masquerading as a reverend (Jefferson Mappin), the colonel (Louis Gossett Jr.) and the hot reporter (Deborah Odell). Stewart Bick and Ramona Milano complete the main cast.

There are kinks in the script that needed worked out and so the story flow is uneven at times and lacks suspense build-up. But I liked the confined environment and the interplay between the characters. All the main actors (not the peripheral ones) take the material seriously and give their best, despite some campy elements, which was the script's issue, not the actors.

Several other things impressed me. For one, this ain't no conventional Christian movie. Despite its low-budget, it's ambitious and has a unique plot. The three females cast members are all beautiful in their own way, with Ramona standing out, but they're each exquisite. The images of Kara (Odell) holding a candle in the dark tunnel are striking.

Then there's the interesting way the Reverend is depicted: At first glance you'd think he's a Southern Baptist preacher, but it becomes clear that this isn't the case. He's a New Ager, but he's not really a hypocrite in that he really believes what he says and is even shown practicing what he preaches, which isn't to say that he's without flaws. He's obviously a glutton, for instance. Speaking of which, it seems like the screenwriter tried to implement the seven deadly sins into the story but, if so, it was half-hearted. Lastly, as cited above, the character of Smitty and her possible relationship with the computer geek, Jack, is compelling. Smitty is the sole Christian character and I like the way she's portrayed as sincere, but flawed; and walking in some morally-conflicting situations, like working for Shaw (Bick), a company whose goal contradicts her belief system.

The movie runs 95 minutes and was shot in Toronto, Canada, substituting for the Sierra Nevadas in California.

GRADE: C+ (5.5/10)