Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's a start, April 13, 2004
As a fan of Frank Peretti's novels, the idea of one finally becoming a movie thrilled me. While I found "Hangman's Curse" a good book, it wouldn't have been my choice for a first movie. Still, they manage to adapt it reasonably well. It's a little slow-paced in parts, and yes, some of the acting is a little off, but it has its redeeming points. It's a family film that should keep the interest of teens and kids (though the adults will probably find themselves going to the kitchen for popcorn quite often). The Christian message isn't overt. As a matter of fact, this couldn't really be considered a "Christian movie". Yes, one of the main characters prays during a crisis, but that's what most Christians do. There is no "Romans Road to Christ" laid out in the film, and it shouldn't offend anyone who's not a Christian. The special effects are good, especially for the budget they had to work with. All in all, this is a movie I'm glad I watched, but I doubt I watch it again any time soon. I look forward to another Frank Peretti film in the future, but I hope it's "The Oath" or "This Present Darkness", either of which would be incredible. Don't judge Frank's works by this movie. Read his books instead.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Entertaining Compromise, December 23, 2005
"Hangman's Curse" is an adaptation of a book by a "Christian" author (Frank Peretti), published by a "Christian" publisher, and promoted by "Christian" bookstores. But the religious aspects of the book are soft peddled in favor of elements intended to make it appeal to a wider audience interested in a traditional mild horror film. There is an obvious agenda but it does not overwhelm the story; mostly they wanted to present a positive message for Christian kids in an uncharacteristically "cool" package and to show that being Christian does not mean a kid has to be a total dork.
The agenda does have a dark side, a simplistic message that being different and asserting your individuality is a misguided response to facing life's challenges without the assist of inner spirituality. Some may view the film's ending message as anti-diversity, although it positively portrays interracial dating it ends with a conformist message. But this is inserted in such a clumsy and contrived way that few will feel any threat of manipulation.
The compromises they made to mainstream this film have offended both extremist "Christians" and hard core horror film fans, which is not exactly a surprise. Extremist "Christians" are upset because the "Christians" in the film seem to be just like "regular" (their word-not mine) people. There has also been some objection to the wardrobe of Leighton Meesier (the actress who poses as a student to investigate the situation) although it looked pretty wholesome to me; Meesier's actual sin is just being radiantly beautiful. If your own faith does not run toward elitist religious egoism you will find almost nothing objectionable. Hard-core horror fans will find this fairly tame although the premise is clever and there are some nice suspenseful moments.
The cast is mostly unexceptional and in many cases the physical casting is way off. The jocks are anything but physically imposing, the main bully would do better cast as a fat nerd and has no business in a speaking role. Crystal and Ian, the two main "goth" kids are supposed to be outcasts, but they are the most physically attractive students in the whole school.
The performance of Andrea Morris (Crystal) is the best thing about "Hangman's Curse". She is totally convincing in the film's most difficult role. It is a great acting for the camera performance and the director showcases this with frequent tight shots on her face. Meesier is also solid and Frank Peretti himself makes an amusing appearance as an eccentrically jolly scientist.
The direction and editing is very strong. The sequencing keeps things active and interesting. Apparently they deleted material that was needed to clarify the effects of the spider bites; that the victims did not die but rather went into comas until the anecdote was discovered and administered is unclear.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Okay Mystery...Disappointing Peretti, October 8, 2004
This was a passable mystery (in a sort of Dawson's-Creek-meets- Prime-Suspect sort of way), and the production values are good. However, as a fan of Frank Peretti's previous books I was VERY disappointed to find that there was no spiritual or Christian message to the film at all. (No, saying "grace" over a picnic meal does not count as a substantive spiritual message!)
Being a filmmaker myself I understand that films must be aimed at the broadest possible audience, but in removing any spiritual message from the film they have removed the very element that makes Peretti's work stand out from other secular horror/mystery writers. They've removed the heart.
In fact, the students in the film who were apparently involved in witchcraft come off as more or less INNOCENT VICTIMS of the individual perpetrating the crimes! There was no real rebuke or correction of their involvement in witchcraft at all, much less a presentation of the Christian gospel. (Yes, the Veritas boy in passing warns the other boy about getting involved with spiritual powers, but this is just a brief mention, very watered-down).
This was all the more disappointing after viewing the "making of" featurette in which Peretti is presented as having a complete involvement in the film project (his professor role in the film is played a bit over the top, not surprising if you've seen his Saturday kid's show). One would think that Peretti himself would see the absolute necessity of presenting or preserving spiritual themes in the work, since that has been the root of his success as a writer of Christian fiction. After all, we don't NEED another Stephen King. We do, however, need the Peretti of his early books (PROPHET being arguably the best).
Peretti mentions in the featurette that he is working to perhaps get his other books produced as films. That sounds exciting, but if he allows the screenwriters to water them down and have little spiritual emphasis as they've done in this case, he needn't bother.
As a mystery, this is a nice little thriller for young people (if you don't mind the "bad-boy" element of the student witches or the hard rock music), but it is by no means a "Christian" film in it's themes, or spiritually substantive. Enjoy it as a nice mystery story, but if you're a Peretti fan I think you'll be VERY disappointed that it packs no spiritual substance behind the surface story.
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