The Mothman Prophecies (2002) by Mark Pellington can easily be listed among the movies that make your eyes forget to blink and, at times, your heart to miss a beat or two. From the opening sequence to the closing credits, this powerful story captures and keeps the viewer’s attention.
Allegedly based on true events preceding and up to the collapse of the Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant (WV) in 1967, the story features the experiences of news reporter John Klein (Richard Gere) whose wife dies of injuries from a car crash following the sighting of a supernatural entity, the Mothman. Later, Klein is mysteriously led to Point Pleasant where many locals had similar Mothman sighting stories. The town’s sheriff Connie Mills (Laura Linney) helps Klein in his quest for making sense of what’s happening while also becoming doubtful of Klein’s sanity.
The Mothman Prophecies appears tightly written and edited well to be the magnet of the viewer’s interest till the last minute. The internal conflict in Klein’s character makes the story a bridge between reality and sanity. Unlike many other tales of supernatural entities and experiences, this one doesn’t expressly involve a particular faith or religion. The nature of Mothman is presented as American folklore associated with the alleged sightings in Point Pleasant.
Like most other movies, The Mothman Prophecies crosses genres, mainly in the mystery, thriller, and horror cinema. Primarily it’s a mystery that kindles the curiosity to learn more about this story, call it modern myth. The sudden sightings of creepy figures and unexplained communication do have a scary feel to it; the knowledge that the sightings forebode death gives it a touch of paranoia. It’s a movie that you don’t mind revisiting once in a while on a dark and stormy evening.
