Writer: Paul Lalonde, John Patus (Screenplay) Jerry B Jenkins, Tim LaHaye (Novel)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Chad Michael Murray, Lea Thompson, Nicky Whelan, Cassi Thomson, Jordin Sparks, Laura Cayouette, Quinton Aaron
Plot: A small group of survivors are left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: God Did It
Story: Left Behind starts by introducing us to Chloe (Thomson) a college student coming home to see her family surprising her father Rayford (Cage). He decides to work so they meet at the airport where he is a pilot and Chloe has just returned to. A chance meeting Buck Williams (Murray) a journalist offers up potential romantic interest and someone who will know how to survive a disaster scenario. Irene Steele (Thompson) mother of Chloe has recently turned to God leading to confrontation between the two. Ray is flying to London and his plane is filled with a colourful assortment of characters, while trying to keep his affair secret.
When within a flash of the eyes people just vanish into thin air leaving nothing but their clothing behind the flight ends up in chaos and Chloe goes in search for her little brother at the mall. We see our flight try to make it back to JFK while Chloe runs around town seeing all the chaos in a desperate search for her brother. We learn that all the children have gone along with a select amount of adults but nobody knows what has happened. They do figure out that it is rapture and all the missing people have gone to heaven but what will be left of the ones left behind?
Left Behind is one of those films that focuses on trying to add a mystery disappearance only to not look into any real possibilities, we have one guy throw out a few ideas only to get shot down, but when it was God can you really tell me that all those people didn’t believe or weren’t good? Add in the comical race to get back to New York and one girl somehow knowing what to do with a road that is under construction and she hasn’t been home since Christmas which I am meant to believe to be a long time ago, but let’s face it, it can’t have been more than a year. This ends up being thrilling with the plane returning side but otherwise it comes off very boring. (4/10)
Actor Review
Nicolas Cage: Rayford Steele our pilot who is about to embark on an affair because he religious wife is doing his head in and he also wants to avoid seeing his daughter on his birthday. Nicolas, Nicolas why do you continue to make some very bad films where you clearly mail it in? (3/10)
Chad Michael Murray: Buck Williams a journalist, who just happens to have experience surviving disasters from around the world, let’s stick him on the plane to help keep people calm. Chad needs to get himself a better agent because this was a poor performance. (3/10)
Cassi Thomson: Chloe Steele the teenage daughter freshly returned to the city for her father’s birthday only for him to leave for work well an affair as she finds out early on. When the event happens her little brother vanishes and she spends time looking for him before being the savior of the plane. Cassi picked the wrong film to make a name for herself in. (4/10)
Support Cast: Left Behind supporting cast is most on the plane and all very generic with the ability to play into all the stereotypes i.e. a Muslim being called a terrorist. They all make the film quite funny though.
Director Review: Vic Armstrong – Vic has a nice idea but fails to make the concept that interesting as a film. (4/10)
Action: Left Behind there is little to no action in this film. (2/10)
Sci-Fi: Left Behind doesn’t play into the sci-fi idea either. (2/10)
Thriller: Left Behind has one side of the thrilling as will they won’t they make it back in the plane. (6/10)
Settings: Left Behind has one setting on the plane which works well, but the rest all seem very random. (5/10)
Suggestion: Left Behind is one to miss, it isn’t smart enough and is left with a really lazy ending. (Miss)
Best Part: The vanish scene is good.
Worst Part: Too long.
Improve Ideas: Make us believe that it was God.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Awards: Could get a razzie
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $19 Million
Budget: $16 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
Tagline: The End of the World has only just begun
Overall: Poor Action Thriller
Rating