‘The Remaining’ makes the Rapture ‘scary’ and asks if you ‘choose God’
Faith-based films haven’t tackled the thriller or horror genres and Casey La Scala’s The Remaining definitely may change that trend. If you consider Blair Witch Project or Cloverfield horror films, then the Rapture centric film qualifies.
Truly though, as La Scala stated in our Dispatch interview, the film is more thriller than horror.
The Remaining follows the events surrounding the Biblical Rapture by focusing on a small group of friends rocked during a wedding reception. Immediately, the characters’ beliefs are challenged, the fear of loss and big picture questions consume their existence.
While the plot is pretty thin and predictable, the end game of challenging the spiritually of the audience is highly successful. The apocalyptic fallout from the Raputure (airplanes and chunks of hail falling from the sky) is the highlight of the film which then shifts from action sequences to chilling attacks by the demonic locust-like creatures unleashed on the Earth.
The theology is straightforward and repetitive, possibly to a fault, but may certainly deter horror fans from the secular audience.
“La Scala keeps interrupting the dread for sermons on how to be the kind of Christian — it’s not enough to just be “spiritual,” kids — who gets transported out of here before the bad stuff happens,” writes the Washington Post in another unfair scathing review of a religious film.
Admittedly there are several different approaches all woven together, but they mostly pull the characters through the chaos into their respective spiritual moments of reckoning. Christians may call for more “Jesus” references while fans of “Left Behind” may just complain, but The Remaining breaks the proverbial glass ceiling.
Sadly, the marketing didn’t screen the film widely to church leaders or reviewers, so most Christians don’t know about the film or that the film is free from profanity, sex, nudity and only present intensity NOT gore.
This will make for a new “scared straight” Christian film used by youth pastors and leaders (once they give it chance) to ask the question _ Are you ready?
Overall The Remaining reviews 3 out of 5 stars
The film stars Alexa Vega (Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D), Shaun Sipos (Texas Chainsaw 3D, TV’s “The Vampire Diaries”), Johnny Pacar (Flight 29 Down), Italia Ricci (TVs “Chasing Life”), Bryan Dechart (Step Up 3D) and newcomer Liz E. Morgan. The Remaining is produced by Brad Luff (Urban Legends), Marc Bienstock (Quarantine 2: Terminal) and La Scala. Rounding out La Scala’s team are cinematographer Doug Emmett (Paranormal Activity 4), production designer Brian Stultz (Iron Man 3) and editor Paul Covington (30 Days of Night).
The Remaining is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of terror, violence and destruction throughout, and thematic elements. Running time is 87 min.
Teaser Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYj9rF8qrA
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