Mothman Prophesies, The MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -2

Based on true events, Richard Gere, Debra Messing, Will Patton, and Laura Linney star in this psychological thriller about a newspaper reporter investigating unexplained phenomena in a small West Virginia town. After a car accident reveals her fatal brain tumor, Washington Post reporter John Klein (Gere) learns his wife (Messing) had visions of a dark winged creature before the accident. Two years later, Klein inexplicably finds himself in the West Virginia town of Point Pleasant, 400 miles from his intended destination. But after meeting local farmer Gordon Smallwood (Patton) and police sergeant Connie Parker (Linney), Klein discovers many people in the town have seen the same creature drawn on his wife's hospital notepad. Investigating the creature and even talking to it, leads Klein on a nightmarish journey that spirals toward a town disaster. Fans of TV's X-Files may enjoy this one, but chances are slim for drawing major audiences.

Although the director uses eerie lighting and suspenseful sounds, jumpy transitions in the story create an episodic feel rather than a smooth flowing tale. Despite hearing comments about his wife drawing 'angels,' Klein never consults any type of clergy. He relies, instead, on the author of a book about paranormal/psychic experiences who has since left the field. Several obscenities and strong profanities are heard in the dialogue. A brief scene of a woman in the shower provides gratuitous nudity obscured by the shower door, but sexual content is limited to couples interrupted before anything happens. However, vulgar language, brief gratuitous nudity, and the poorly explored theme of a spirit entity zap THE MOTHMAN PROPHESIES.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Screen Gems (Sony Pictures Entertainment), 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232