The Messengers (2007)

Directors:

Oxide Pang Chun
Danny Pang

Writers (WGA):

Mark Wheaton (screenplay)
Todd Farmer (story)

Release Date:

2 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

There is evidence to suggest that children are highly susceptible to paranormal phenomena. They see what adults cannot. They believe what adults deny. And they are trying to warn us.

Plot:

An ominous darkness invades a seemingly serene sunflower farm in North Dakota, and the Solomon family is torn apart by suspicion, mayhem and murder.

Plot Keywords:

Farm | North Dakota | Sunflower | Killer | Supernatural

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kristen Stewart	...	Jess
Dylan McDermott	...	Roy
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Denise
John Corbett	...	Burwell
Evan Turner	...	Ben
Theodore Turner	...	Ben
William B. Davis	...	Colby Price
Brent Briscoe	...	Plume
Dustin Milligan	...	Bobby
Jodelle Ferland	...	Michael Rollins
Michael Daingerfield	...	Police Officer
Tatiana Maslany	...	Lindsay Rollins
Shirley McQueen	...	Mary Rollins
Anna Hagan	...	Doctor
Blaine Hart	...	Charlie

Also Known As:

Scarecrow (International: English title) (working title)
The Untitled Pang Brothers Horror Project (USA) (working title)
Totem (International: English title) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, disturbing violence and terror.

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (flashback scenes) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42010) | Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:PG | Ireland:15A | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | France:-12 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-15 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 | Chile:14 | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:18PL | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

Scout Taylor-Compton auditioned for the role of Jess.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Roy informs Jess that the doctor said her wounds looked self-inflicted, he refers to the doctor as a "he". The doctor which said that was a woman.

Quotes:

Jess: Dad, I'm really scared. Can't we just go home?
Roy: Jessica, this is home. You need to get used to that.

Movie Connections:

References Cold Creek Manor (2003)

Soundtrack:

All My Dreams Are Coming True

Generic Horror/Thriller

I won't lie to you, I enjoyed this movie. Yes, it was rather generic. Yes, it borrowed some plot points from other movies. And yes, there were way too many crows. Yet despite all the negative I continued to hear about it, I went and saw it anyways, and I'm glad I did.

Many plot points, such as a haunted house in the middle of nowhere, parents not listening to their kids, and ghosts out for revenge are ideas that Hollywood has used and recycled more times than a person can count. However, The Messengers manages to put these together into one movie, without going for too much at once. Certain scenes were rather predictable, so I won't claim that the movie really innovates on any of the standard horror elements, but there are plenty of moments that had me jump in my seat, and had the female members of the audience squealing and clutching their boyfriends.

Overall I felt at the end of the movie that, while not amazing, it was worthy of my time and money to see with a couple friends on a lazy afternoon.