Signs and Wonders

this is a good story about cults, how they really are and what it it like to leave one. it is also the best role of james earl jones i think other than darth vader or thulsa doom. the story has particular significance for me as i left a cult type of thing right before i watched it on public broadcasting. i could relate, plus the lead actress whatever her name is way cool.

Anglo-American co-production focusing on the Palmore family, each of whom has a crisis of faith: the father loses his congregation to a rival preacher and his faith in God; the mother reconsiders her marriage, and the son - a university lecturer - discovers that the philosophy to which he devoted his career is a Nazi sham. The inter-connecting stories each have some extremely powerful moments (Christ appearing to Warner; an extremely eerie confrontation between Maloney and Pleasence), but generally feel plodding; interfering with the main story-line of the Palmore daughter in LA.

Jodhi May plays a member of the Mercy Mission of Divine Revelation, kidnapped by "exit counsellor" James Earl Jones (in her mother's employ), who slowly tries to reverse-brainwash her. May initially hallucinates that he is Satan, but quickly proves herself an extremely quick-witted woman who angrily battles him point by point in logical debate, before collapsing under the emotional strain.

Under chase from the FBI, the American section is fast-paced and nail-biting; scenes between May and Earl Jones are terrifying. May's relationship with her mother is extremely emotionally affecting (such as the scene where she first hugs her then, distraught, beats her, declaring "You're nothing to me") - and the whole series should be watched for Jodhi May's peerless performance. If only it had been a two-hour film focusing on the one plot, however; the writer's only flaw is trying to build up suspense by frequently inserting slow, dull scenes about the Palmore men.