"The Reaping" is a thriller for people who haven't seen many thrilling movies, meaning it exists merely to spook the easily-scared while utilizing one genre cliché after another (a priest receiving a dire warning, a storm blowing open a door, a child drawing a picture of a mysterious girl, the non-believer whose skepticism is finally shaken and, the biggest eye-roller of them all, the bachelor teacher and the single female professor finding common ground). The professor is played by Hilary Swank, whose fearlessness appears to stem from the fact she's now a spiritual non-believer after losing a child--she's not religious, therefore she goes where angels fear to tread. Her work at a university apparently takes a backseat to many globe-trotting adventures wherein she and her colleague investigate so-called miracles which are soon debunked with scientific fact. Despite two Oscar wins to her credit, nothing about Swank's performance here seems authentic. Whether addressing a lecture hall, interacting with the other characters or whirling around in surprise at a sudden noise (and this movie is very noisy), everything Swank does is canned, telegraphed for a response. There is absolutely no mystery about Swank's Katherine Winter: she is stubborn for effect, she is winsome for effect, she draws out her words for effect, she rattles off statistics to her colleague on a farm full of dying cows for effect. It's bad enough that the movie is supernatural-tinged swill, one using bloody river water and toads falling from the sky to frighten us to the marrow, but it doesn't even have the courage of its convictions. Colleague Ben (Idris Elba) ribs his boss for her lack of faith only to show us that there can be a professional balance between one who believes in God and one who doesn't--and when he kisses the crucifix around his neck upon entering a chapel, that signals us his fate will soon be in jeopardy. Writers Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes, working from Brian Rousso's original story, don't want the audience to miss a trick, laying everything out in maddeningly literal terms. This is End of The World 101...or rather, Plagues for Dummies. *1/2 from ****

Just found this movie on one old DVD. Well, I have to say I'm shocked, this is a pretty good little thriller.Katherine (Hillary Swank) is an ex-missionary turned scientist and debunker, and she's called to investigate a small town in the deep South where the river has turned red or as some suspect to blood. This is followed in close order by other Biblical plagues. They all seem to to be tied to a young girl living in the woods.Its' "plot driving event" seen at the beginning of the movie is kinda cliché, when the priest is watching Katherine's picture, eyes on it are starting to burn. Similar thing is seen for example in "The Omen", a lot of years ago. Score is totally haunting and is sung by choir, it adds a lot to the movie's creepy atmosphere, so does cinematography with minimal light or with daylight. It is also brilliant framed and the camera work is very enjoyable. Editing is done well, especially when it shows 2 parallel actions. Acting is done nice, especially Swank's part. CGI is also done very well.

Hillary swank didn't really do a great job carrying the lead role in this movie to be honest. The script is alright, it's not exactly award winning, it's really kinda lazy at times, too many clichés as well. The special effects might be the worst thing about The Reaping, the effects are just really weak and fake looking. The plot had some serious potential, but unfortunately, in my opinion, it was wasted. This movie may attract some horror, thriller fans, but do not be deceived by its somewhat cool look, this movie is just not nearly as good as you might think it is. There are so many better films of this genre that are far better. 3/10 for The Reaping.

First off, I'm so confused why this movie is called The Reaping when there wasn't even reaping involved. I was reaped once and it was so cool lol and a lot of fun so I think Hillary Swank got confused when she titled the movie, HER HEAD WAS PROBABLY HIT ONE TOO MANY TIMES IN MILLION DOLLAR BABY. I don't think they did a good job with the setting either because the whole time it didn't even look like they were in Africa, there was only one black guy in the whole movie. This movie should have been called THE SNATCHING. People were getting snatched up left and right, there was constant snatching it scared me so much because I was snatched once by a guy who looked like Usher. Hillary would have been much safer at Sandals Beach Resort, no ones ever getting snatched. ALSO why didn't Hillary Swank just call child services and order take out for everyone then there would be no more snatching. I think in the Snatching 2 there will be a twist and Hillarys gonna be the snatcher LOL OMGThis movie made me crave a steak so now I have to go to Longhorn and snatch up a steak. What do you guys think???????