Director: Vic Armstrong
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson, Chad Michael Murray, Jordin Sparks
Running time: 110 minutes
Certificate: PG
LEFT BEHIND…or try left unsatisfied. The film is absurd, from its cheesy soundtrack and acting to the horrifically obvious preaching. Simply put, it lacks any good qualities and leaves you feeling very disappointed but also un-surprised. The premise of the movie is a tough sell; the apocalyptic theme has been overplayed and seems to pander to expectation, rather than get creative and think outside the box, the film decides to try and sell what it thinks audiences want to see but unfortunately only results in boredom.
The film follows a group of people left behind when millions vanish. While the world around turns to chaos and destruction the group try to survive and make sense of the weird disappearances. The summary alone leaves you wondering what is there to inspire me to watch this movie. Well honest;y, not much.
LEFT BEHIND fails because you almost immediately know what’s going to happen and whereas with some movies, you’d hope for a touch more drama and action to compensate, it just isn’t here. There’s no real tension or much to be inspired by and right from the off, we’re faced with lame acting and an unnecessarily dreary soundtrack that seems to have got lost on its way to a romantic comedy.
It’s so hard to find a positive and how Nicolas Cage agreed to be a part of this train-wreck is beyond me, and even though never my first choice actor, I still expected more from him. I remember loving his performance in RAISING ARIZONA and feel crippled by the idea that his career has been reduced to saying ‘Yes!‘ to anything. The accompanying cast are average with all the characters being weak stereotypes of sinful types. In other words,this would only appeal to extreme fanatics, Westboro Baptist Church come to mind, where everyone is condemned except those who follow a Christian God. It’s everything we don’t want to see from modern cinema.
LEFT BEHIND is a disaster. It’s difficult to pin point any good qualities aside from an attractive cast; there’s not here much for anyone.
[usr=1] LEFT BEHIND is released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray on the 5th January, 2015.
