Customer Reviews

A Thief in the Night [VHS]

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

The evangelical nature of this film may scare some non-Christians away from what is a true 70's B-movie classic. Filmed on location in scenic Iowa, this film even features Russell Doughten Jr. (co-producer of the 1958 classic "The Blob" and executive producer of this film) as Reverend Turner, a liberal pastor who is left behind after all the Christians disappear during 'The Rapture.' The plot follows the trials of Patty Myers, a young teenager who awakens to find that millions of people around the world have suddenly disappeared without a trace. She had the opportunity to give her heart to Jesus, but was hindered by Rev. Turner, who denies the teaching of the Rapture from the pulpit. Suddenly, Patty finds herself in a world ruled by a global organization (UNITE) controlled by the United Nations. She spends a good deal of the movie running away from armed UNITE thugs who are intent on making sure she receives "the mark," a strange 'computer code' that identifies her as one of Satan's own. This is a film that scared the hell out (quite literally, in some cases) of a good many children and teenagers during the 70's and early 80's. Endearingly sub-par acting, low-budget sets and props, horribly dated scenery and clothing, and a cheesy over-the-top film score add up to a film that should rightfully be a classic among lovers of B-movie flicks. This film spawned three sequels, "A Distant Thunder," "Image of the Beast," and "The Prodigal Planet."

This movie is important in that it began the whole Christian apocalyptic genre. In 1972 Thief in the Night was cutting-edge church drama. Of course the acting seems a bit stiff, the dialogue forced, the message delivered without a hint of sublety. However, this effort served as a catalyst for the many sophisticated media presentations of a popular Christian view of how the world as we know it ends (and begins).

I remember seeing Thief in the Night roughly a quarter of a century ago--how it inspired me to greater dedication, and how a number people became serious about their faith for the first time.

Seeing The film today is akin to watching some of the earliest Star Trek episodes. The dated styles, the archiac technology, and the paper-shuffling government authorities are fun to remember. Yet, in spite of the 30 years that have passed since its production, Thief in the Night's message remains timely.

Perhaps the reintroduction of the Thief in the Night series will garner new appreciation for such modern productions as Left Behind, and the Apocalypse series. Religious producers still do not have the budgets and tools available on the scale Hollywood uses. Nevertheless, meaningful messages are being meaningfully done.

Bottom-line: Thief in the Night will prove most interesting to Christians who came of age in the 70s and 80s. The acting is stiff, but not sloppy. The message lacks nuance, but communicates clearly and realistically. As a pioneer effort in the genre, the movie earns a solid 4 stars.

I have three childern who are adults now. This was one of many movies that we rented from a local christian book store, when they were young. Recently, I recieved a phone call from my oldest boy, asking about this movie. He told me, that as a child, he had nightmares after watching this movie, but now he's asking me if I could remember the title. He does remember, wants to see it again, and to show it to his friends. It's a movie that we had a hard time watching and believing, but it does fall in line with the word of God. I would not ever show this to little ones again, but as children get older, I think it's a movie that can help put life, and what children may come up against in life, into a better preseptive. Teenagers and their parents should see this movie together. I have never forgotten it,,,, you won't either.

Melinda Paschall

I first saw "A Theif in the Night," when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I cannot forget the impact it had on me at that time...it motivated me to witness the love of Jesus to all of my friends. I have seen this movie several times since, and while a product of it's times (early 70's) with bell bottoms, wide sideburns, and mini-skirts, its message is just as pertinent and pressing as when it was made, and impact just as effective; time is short, the harvest plentiful and workers few.

After watching the ever popular Left Behind starring Kirk Cameron, I had a whole new out-look on the future, and on God's ways of doing things. But then someone at my church told me there was an orginal Left Behind. What the title was, she didn't say. Then, looking it up one day, I ran across a Thief in the Night on Amazon hoping that there would be a book to the movie like Left Behind. Watching the movie, I realized, they made A thief in the night from scratch. It is a highly underrated film for it's times. It should've been given more credit then it has. If only people in the 70's would've paid more attention to it, they would know what is going to happen to our world, for it is near.

Stubborn, and spoiled Patty Myers thinks she's a christian. Going to church, reading her bible, and following the ten commandments; what more do you want? But no later than expected, she realizes there was a lot more than to what she thought was going on. Thinking she could've changed anytime she wanted, she is now stuck in the spiraling vortex that the tribulation has her trapped in when millions of people suddenly disappear into thin air all at the same time all over the globe. All too many times she was warned about the disappearances as the infamous Rapture. In the chaos that the world is now facing, everywhere around her, people are getting marked with a symbol that a strange shadowy organization called UNITE has come up with. As even more apt as can be, the mark will not come off, and Patty knows all too well that this is the mark of the beast which also turns up in the tribulation as foretold in the bible. She tries to avoid it as much as she can, but stores all around won't let anyone in without it. There's only one way out for her, and that's to let the problem enter God's still willing hands.

Watching this left an even bigger impression than Left Behind ever will. It mentions God more than it does in Left Behind, and probably gives an even greater message than Left Behind does considering you don't even have to see a sequel just to know what's going on, and what will happen if people don't hurry up, and change. I'm not saying the Rapture is going to happen anytime soon (it might, you never know) but it's just the fact that people wait until the last minute to accept Christ. People say these movies used scare tactics and ruined them for life. Sometimes you have to scare people just to get their attention. I'm 13 and you don't seem me crying about it, do you? This was actually a pretty exciting movie for telling the truth about the future.

I'm saying this to the people who say these movies ruined their faith and their life. These movies didn't do anything to you. You're the one who made the choice to leave your faith just because you saw the truth. It will not ruin your life, it will change your life. Take it from a kid who was falling away and came back to Christ because of this film. And believe me, I didn't see one scary thing about this movie. Take a look at reality. It just might look you back.

This video captured my heart when I was 10. I have never forgotten this video and have encouraged my friends, Christian and non, to watch and accept the message. Powerful and biblically correct in its content. A message everyone should hear. It does not beat around the bush as a current "Christian" movie does. See this and give your life to the Lord, or rededicate your life to our Savior in Heaven.

I will never forget the impact this movie has done in my life. 18 years ago. I still remember as if it was just yesterday. I've seen it several times along with the other sequals that come with it. I've rented it and showed it to my family and friends. It is a "MUST" have for witnessing, I'm glad I've found it on Amazon.com for purchase. I will purchase my own set and use it as a witnessing tool. Including the Nicky Cruz movie "The Cross and the Swithchblade" These all have impacted my life and have made my walk in the Lord stronger, just to think of what could happen in just a blink of an eye. At times I found my self thinking the Lord had came when I would come home and see food on the kitchen stove and everything working and my mother gone. I would get flash backs of the movie. Did the Lord Come?

This is one review that I will try to tell as little as possible, so you can enjoy this movie without preconceived notions. The title comes from the reference in 1 Thessalonians 5, that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

This movie (and the subsequent movies) are taken from a pre-millennial, pre-tribualtional theology. Pre-millennial means Christ will return following a seven year tribulation period to set up His kingdom. Pre-tribulational means that Christians will be taken from the earth to be with Christ prior to that seven year tribulation.

This is all I'll tell you about the movie. If you have not seen it, please do. If you are not a Christian, definitely see this movie, and definitely find a Christian to answer any questions you have concerning this movie.

I was 5 or 6 when I was first introduced to this film and the rest of the series. They were screened at my church and everyone was encouraged to bring their families. Like some of the other reviewers here, I was absolutely terrified and proceeded to have nightmares and anxiety attacks for years. I developed a ridiculous fear of abandonment and would freak out every time I lost my mother in the supermarket or came home from school to an empty house (I actually would turn on the news to make sure I hadn't been "left behind"). I also found myself up at the altar in tears every week just in case the previous week's salvation hadn't stuck.

I honestly believe my church screened the films with good intentions, and I know they have genuine concern for what they consider "lost souls." However, it is my opinion that scare tactics like these should NOT be used on kids. Children are incredibly impressionable and not capable of understanding the concepts at work in these films; I cannot think of anything less Christian than intentionally putting them through the sort of trauma so many of us here experienced. It's taken me 25+ years to stop being angry about this. That is insane.

I *would* recommend the series to adults with an interest (whether academic or faith-based) in apocalypse theories (or anyone with a true appreciation of camp, for that matter). Please just do not show these films to children.

Oh yes, rest assured, there will be nightmares. There will also be a turning away from religion, and probably therapy in later years. Ask anyone in Generation X who saw this as children, when we were bused to churches in large crowds. These 4 movies are one major reason for our "issues" as a generation. We all lived in constant fear of 5 things: the Rapture, the Russians, the vampires, the aliens, and nuclear annihilation in World War III. Many of us grew up listening for cars & trains passing so we'd know the world hadn't ended yet, i.e., the Rapture hadn't yet come, but probably would tonight or tomorrow.