The Mothman Prophecies

 The Mothman Prophecies 

"Did you hear the one about the bridge collapse in the small town? Right before it happened, people said they saw a dark figure appear, and warn them about the accident. They called that figure, 'The Mothman'" 

For the first time in this series of reviews, we look at an Urban Legend that is based on real life events. Although still a movie, “The Mothman Prophecies” takes a little-known legend from the quiet American state of West Virginia. It was here in the late 1960’s, a varied group of people had visions of a tall, dark being of some sort, who would be dubbed “The Mothman” due to his appearance and that he or “It” seemed to fly in and out of your vision in a flash. 

This film clearly takes advantage of the success of “The Sixth Sense” from 1999, which proved you could tell a ghost story that was believable and smart. There were many attempts at this in the years following the classic thriller about the boy who could see Dead People, and many of them didn’t reach those heights. Thankfully, The Mothman Prophecies is one of the better additions to the genre, due to it’s interesting premise, solid production values and a strong performance by Richard Gere in the lead role. The former heartthrob who chased Pretty Women, was now headlining a supernatural thriller, and he does a good job. 

The film rewards the viewer who is willing to think outside the box, pay close attention to the details and see the subtle power of the story that hides in the shadows. It’s not a jump out of your seat scary movie, and there is barely any sign of blood or gore. Rather, the film focuses on the building of atmosphere, which it does extremely well, moving from start to finish with a dark, sombre feel, and the presence of malice and foreboding throughout. It certainly keeps your interest and flows consistently from its saddened opening scenes to it’s shocking final scenes. 

Looking at the legend for a moment, The Mothman Prophies is based on a book by John Keel. That book retells the many stories that came from multiple people residing in the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. From the period of November 1966 and December 1967, there were numerous eye witness accounts from people of all ages and backgrounds, across many locations, of a dark figure, that would appear to them right before something bad would happen. In some cases, people described hearing a voice whisper to them, as if coming from behind, but no one or nothing was there. Taking one of these foretold terrible incidents straight from the pages of real life itself, the film focuses on the collapse of the Silver Bridge in the town of Point Pleasant, that killed 46 People. 

But before we get to that climax, the movie tells the story of John Klein (Richard Gere), and his wife Mary (Debra Messing). John is a successful journalist for the esteemed Washington Post. On Christmas eve, he and his wife drive home from an inspection of a new house they plan to buy. Everything seems to be going right for this successful and happy couple, with the world at their fingertips. Mary is driving, and suddenly swerves away from something, sliding and skidding along the icy road, and crashing into a tree.  John is okay, but his wife is injured in the accident, and after undergoing various tests at the hospital, it’s detected Mary has a brain tumour. As she partakes in treatment, she goes on and on about seeing something the night of the accident, which she can’t describe. John saw nothing, and struggles to understand the nature behind his wife’s vision. 

As her illness worsens, Mary passes away, and two years pass by for John, who continues to live a quiet life grieving after the death of his wife. 

It’s after this time passes, John randomly decides to go for a drive late one night, and ends up over 400 miles away in the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Oddly, John has no memory of driving there, and keeps appearing at the house of a local man, Gordon (Will Patton). Believing John is stalking him, Gordon keeps his distance at first, but as the two men discover they’re connected by the vision of the dark figure that appears like a moth flying through the sky, the mystery behind the sightings begins to unravel. John decides to increase his stay in the small town, and works with the local Sheriff Connie (Laura Linney). As more and more residents claim they’ve seen the entity appear, and predictions of accidents begin to come true, John races against time to save the lives of Point Pleasant’s people. 

As in real life with the legend of The Mothman, the movie is unable to give any clear explanation as to what exactly it is, and where it comes from. But it’s presence is surely felt, and it has a plan. On one occasion, it even calls John at his motel room, introducing itself as Indriid Cole. Speaking plain English, but with a voice that is far from human, the mysterious identity plays his games with John, and warns him of events that will all come to pass, in good time. John feels the sense of dread that a terrible accident is on the horizon, and he tries to unravel the truth behind The Mothman, before the next accident occurs and more lives are lost. 

Watching this film, you are given the privilege to draw your own conclusions, and there will be many questions left unanswered. In one way or another, The Mothman seems to symbolise death, and could even be an angel or messenger of Death, or Death itself. Its purpose cannot be ascertained, and its appearance is surely something conjured up from another world, beyond the one we can see with our own mortal eyes. 

And the legend continues to live on today. If you ever visit the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, you can stop by the local museum paying tribute to the mystery, or attend the annual Mothman Festival. The legend has been centred around the town of Point Pleasant, and acts as its biggest drawing card for tourists. No other sightings of The Mothman have been recorded in America since the late 1960’s, so was it a case of a few people in the quiet town, feeling bored and making up an extravagant story to get their town’s name on the map? Or was it indeed the agenda of an unknown entity, focusing its sights on one town, to warn the residents of the impending bridge collapse, or simply playing games in the realm of life and death? 

You decide. 

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