The Visitation
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: D Film: C-
A small town in The Bible Belt experiences what they think
are miracles, but the price may be too high for them and they are likely being
had in the supernatural murder thriller The Visitation. This includes a young man (Edward Furlong)
who seems to be channeling this divine power and a woman (Pricilla Barnes) who
is more than convinced. Early on
however, people are disappearing after accidents and a local holy man (Randy
Travis) is at least one step ahead of events, for the moment.
What could have been an interesting is muddled by Brian
Godawa’s script, which is more like a bad X-Files reject (or something
implemented in the not-brief-enough Night Stalker revival) that has no
focus or direction. The cast also
includes the always-likable Kelly Lynch, but director Robby Henson just has no
idea how to overcome clichés and seems to even add them where they should not
be. The more one watches, the more it
plays like a series of missed opportunities, and that is the greatest horror of
all here.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is soft, detail
limited and has more of its color scheme gutted out that it should. This does not create any mood, just
perpetuates the generic nature of the situation and script. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has some
surrounds, but its low budget shows in the slight fidelity problems of the
recorded dialogue. Only a trailer is included
as an extra.
- Nicholas Sheffo
