A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Zachary Mott
- Otto
- (as Billy Mott)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Mothman Prophecies is one of those movies that, despite its shortcomings in story or pacing, make up for it with atmosphere and the hair standing up on the back of your neck eeriness. There is just something so moody, foreboding, and genuinely unsettling about this film. Its not scary or a horror film in the traditional sense, but watch it alone in the dark and try not to get uneasy in parts. The acting in the film is superb, with an all star cast including Richard Gere, the amazing Laura Linney, and vastly underrated Will Patton among others. Their acting sells this movie. I found myself drawn to their characters regardless of the blandness of the script itself. Credit must also be given to Mark Pellington, the director, for taking a so-so script and crafting a truly creepy and underrated gem from it. I find myself watching this again and again if it happens to be on TV, and it has become one of those guilty pleasure movies for me that I watch just about anytime I see it on along with The Green Mile, Signs, The Shawshank Redemption, and O' Brother, Where Art Thou?. Definitely worth a look, but be forewarned, don't watch it alone in the dark.
I didn't love the movie the first time I watched it. But sometimes (and with some other shows and movies happened) I revisit a movie and I must change my point of view. This is a grower, a truly atmospheric, classic thriller that sinks in your mind. Great!
This gets high marks for suspense alone. It is a very tense movie, guaranteed to keep the first-time viewer glued to his/her seat. It might even raise a few hairs on the back of your neck!
Dramatic music also helped with the suspense. In addition, we get some fine acting performances from Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Will Patton.
Don't be fooled, however, with the "based on a true story" tag line. It might be "based" but that could mean only a very, very small part of this film was actual; the rest presented for dramatic purposes. This film is a good case of that, from what I've read.
Nonetheless, it's interesting, has good visuals and decent sound and some genuine creepy moments. This definitely a film to have on DVD, as opposed to VHS, although I suppose at this point, few people buy tapes anymore anyway. Those looking to curl up on the couch with a good thriller: give this movie a look.
Dramatic music also helped with the suspense. In addition, we get some fine acting performances from Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Will Patton.
Don't be fooled, however, with the "based on a true story" tag line. It might be "based" but that could mean only a very, very small part of this film was actual; the rest presented for dramatic purposes. This film is a good case of that, from what I've read.
Nonetheless, it's interesting, has good visuals and decent sound and some genuine creepy moments. This definitely a film to have on DVD, as opposed to VHS, although I suppose at this point, few people buy tapes anymore anyway. Those looking to curl up on the couch with a good thriller: give this movie a look.
The film is simply terrific, fantastic special effects, good plot and a really shocking and surprising ending! This is really a horror film mixed with a thriller that has respected my own perspectives. I suggest it to all the people who liked films like "The sixth sense" and "The others"...It's almost a masterpiece of his genre!
Except for its obvious moments of self indulgence and lethargy, the most of the screenplay's inventive writing was extremely effective. Not only was I emotionally invested, but the film also possessed a hypnotic, surreal quality that kept my eyes and mind transfixed on whatever was unfolding.
I am perplexed as to how works of this quality could remain unnoticed for so long, when works of limited value and output almost always garner the greatest attention from both the public and reviewers. Irrefutably, it is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated psychological thrillers ever.
"In the end it all came down to just one simple question. Which was more important, having proof or being alive? Trust me. I turned away years ago, and I've never looked back."
I am perplexed as to how works of this quality could remain unnoticed for so long, when works of limited value and output almost always garner the greatest attention from both the public and reviewers. Irrefutably, it is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated psychological thrillers ever.
"In the end it all came down to just one simple question. Which was more important, having proof or being alive? Trust me. I turned away years ago, and I've never looked back."
Did you know
- TriviaThis movie is based on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
- GoofsWhen John Klein rips the telephone from the wall and throws it, we hear the sound of a telephone with a bell hitting the floor, yet the phone is a modern digital cordless phone.
- Quotes
John Klein: I think we can assume that these entities are more advanced than us. Why don't they just come right out and tell us what's on their minds?
Alexander Leek: You're more advanced than a cockroach, have you ever tried explaining yourself to one of them?
- Crazy creditsSoundtrack listing, song Half Light, which plays over the credits. The movie credits for this song say, "Additional Lyrics by Indrid Cold," the Mothman character of the movie. Toward the end of the song, there is a muffled, whispering voice, similar to one of the prophetic voice heard at various times in the movie. The voice continues just past the end of the song and to the end of the credits, but the words are indiscernible.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Search for the Mothman (2002)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Mensajero de la oscuridad
- Filming locations
- Mellon Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA(Chicago exteriors)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $32,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $35,746,370
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,208,851
- Jan 27, 2002
- Gross worldwide
- $55,305,279
- Runtime
- 1h 59m(119 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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