Film Review: The Seventh Sign (1988)

While apocalyptic events are quite popular subject in mainstream Hollywood, the Apocalypse as described as in Book of Revelations is not. There are various reasons for that, stemming from large budgets necessary for depicting those events and, of course, religious controversies that Hollywood generally tries to avoid. One of rare mainstream films to deal with the concept is The Seventh Sign, 1988 supernatural thriller directed by Carl Schultz.

The plot begins with series of strange and seemingly unexplainable phenomena occurring in various parts of the worlds. All that coincide with the presence of strange man (played by Jürgen Prochnow) who break ancients seals. Soon afterwards he comes to Venice Beach, California where he introduces himself as “David Bannon” and rents a room in the home of lawyer Russell Quinn (played by Michael Biehn) and his pregnant wife Abby (played by Demi Moore). While Russell is preoccupied with the case of Jimmy Szaragosa (played by John Taylor), young religious man awaiting execution for murder of his incestuos parents, Abby is haunted by strange dreams and visions, as well as concerns for well-being of her unborn child, since her first pregnancy failed. Abby is also concerned with strange behaviour of David and his apparent obsession with her baby, and when she finds some strange documents in Hebrew, she decides to seek translation from young rabbinical student Avi (played by Manny Jacobs). In the meantime, Father Lucci (played by Peter Friedman), Catholic priest who investigates phenomena for the Vatican, follows Bannon’s trail to Venice Beach.

The Seventh Sign is flawed, but interesting film that tries to depicts end the of the world in a refreshing way. Carl Schultz, Australian director who worked mostly on television, puts less emphasis on horror, as most of such films do, and instead steers film more to the territory of disaster film, thriller and psychological drama. In doing so he has good assistance from cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchia who fills film with red and sepia tones in order to create atmosphere of dread. The Seventh Sign also benefits from special effects which were quite good for 1980s standards. Among those the most impressive is one which is cause of many urban legends related to pregnancy of Demi Moore; it is used in the scene where Abby takes bath and Moore in it appears naked, with pregnancy being simulated with very effective prosthetic makeup. Moore is equally impressive as an actress, convincingly portraying woman who starts as an atheist and ends up as true believer convinced that she must save the world. The rest of the cast is very good, with possible exception of Michael Biehn as her husband is quite bland and lack any chemistry. Prochnow is quite effective as mysterious stranger, although he doesn’t leave as much impression as Peter Friedman as priest with his own agenda.

Schultz’s effort, however, can’t compensate for the flaws in the script by Clifford and Ellen Green. Having protagonists slowly realising that various strange events in the world and around her mean Second Coming looked like a good idea, but it was compromised with the plot borrowing (and misusing) the medieval legend of Wandering Jew. Script also, like many Hollywood films dealing with global events, have Apocalypse depend on what happens in Southern California, with signs of apocalypse being conveniently related to protagonist and her husband. All that escalate in the ending which is violent, melodramatic and annoyingly predictable. On the other hand, scriptwriters had to make sure that nobody takes this film too seriously and thus save themselves from trouble Martin Scorsese had with his interpretations of Bible in The Last Temptation of Christ. Like so many Hollywood films dealing with religion, The Seventh Sign doesn’t stray from Judeo-Christian tradition, although one interesting and semi-humorous scene has Avi discussing different religions and their eschatological concepts with unnamed Christian priest (played by John Heard). This scene shows suggests that The Seventh Sign with little more bravery could have been much better film. And it could have been even better without annoying soundtrack by Jack Nitzsche. It is still watchable and mildly entertaining film, although it could be recommended more to the die hard fans of Demi Moore than to the average audience.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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