The Gathering

2002

Suspense

Britain

Granada Film

Reel DVD

R4 DVD

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

At the Glastonbury Rock festival one night two young people steal off into the surrounding woods, but fall through a hole in the ground and are killed. Investigators find they have crashed through the roof of an old buried church. As the church is investigated it is found to date back to the first century AD and may be connected to Joseph of Aramathea who was rumoured to have fled to Britain after the Crucifixion. The walls of the church are covered in magnificent rock carvings of peoples faces. The local Bishop is sure he has seen these faces before. What he finds terrifies him.

Meanwhile a young girl, Cassie (Christina Ricci) is hit by a car in a neighbouring village. She recovers almost miraculously with little more than a cut, but she has lost her memory of what she was doing in the village. The lady who was driving the car takes her home to shelter her while her memory recovers, and Cassie forms a close bond with the two children. Young Michael seems rather autistic and she forms a special bond with him.

Things start to turn strange. There is a mystery associated with the house, and Cassie starts having “visions” of terrible events involving Michael. As she walks through the village she notices a number of strangers watching her. They do not appear malevolent – they are just waiting and watching. While talking to the local villagers she has flashes of prescient vision showing them suffering massive injuries.

The two plotlines eventually come together in a finale which is every bit as horrifying as Cassie’s visions predicted. There is one hope for the children – now Cassie is forewarned, she is fiercely protective of the kids. Will that be enough to save them from the fate that she has seen in her visions?

The film is one of contrasts, from the staid superstitions of religion to the pretty little village and its dour people, the dark events of the past, and to the mysterious people and heir role. The tension builds as we change from plotline to plotline and the ending seems unpredictable. Is Fate set in its course or can it be changed?

The story could not succeed without a strong actress to drive it. Christina Ricci’s acting history goes back to the TV show The Addams Family. Her youthful, pretty looks suit the part well but her tremendous acting skill combined with Brian Gilbert’s tight direction are what make the film a great work. Without them I think the film would be just another Hammer Horror film in spite of Anthony Horowitz’ intelligent script. The quality of the film is also helped by Gilbert’s not allowing it to fall into the conventional splatter or horror genres – it may border on these but it is done with taste and style and doesn’t cross the line.

I was rather surprised at the choice of an American for the lead role. In what is a distinctly British style of film Cassie sticks out, but I think now that this is what was intended – she is a stranger to the village and its history, a traveller from foreign parts, and her accent highlights this.

I really enjoyed this film for its plot, quality production and intelligent story. If you like suspense, try this one.

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This review will appear in Volume 2 No.5 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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