Synopsis: “THE REMAINING is an action-packed supernatural thriller that addresses questions of life, love and belief against an apocalyptic backdrop. A group of close friends gather for a wedding, but the celebration is shattered by a series of cataclysmic events and enemies foretold by biblical end-times prophecies. The survivors face a horrifying, uncertain future as they scramble for safety, but as their world collapses around them in chaos and terror will they choose real life through faith, or just try to survive?”

I went to see this film today.  It was very interesting (at first), and tells the story of a group of friends who are left behind after the Rapture occurs.  It is a horror genre based film so it is quite intense (PG-13 rating).  When I bought my ticket the person at the ticket booth asked me what it was about, so I had the opportunity to give her the synopsis.  The ticket taker also asked me what it was about, and he said the theater had received no promotional material or information at all about the picture.  He was an older gentleman and I thought it was neat that he used the older term for a movie when we were talking.

As a horror film I enjoyed it.  As a supposedly Biblical film, it was not okay.  For being a partial “found footage” type, the visually represented judgements were a nice visual even if I don’t necessarily agree with the timing.  The director has stated that his interpretation of the Rapture is a spiritual catching away.  I believe it is a spiritual and bodily catching away (Jesus and Paul make that very clear).

[spoilers below]

Immediatly after the Rapture it appeared that the sixth seal was broken and there was a great earthquake.  Next was the blowing of the First Trumpet (partial impact seen).  Then the Second and Third were blown but we did not see anything.  The Forth Trumpet was only partially visualized.  So very little was seen.

The Fifth Trumpet was the main focus of the film.  The very unBiblical part was that the demons from the bottomless pit hunted down and attacked people of faith (new believers) to kill them and to destroy any Bibles.  In the Bible, the locusts were commanded to harm, “only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads, and they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months” (Revelation 9:4-5a).

The film ended before the Sixth Trumpet was blown.

It was made very clear in the film that every person has to make a decision to believe in God or not believe.  When the people in the film believed they were punished with torment and death by the demon locusts with scorpion stingers (never seen, just fast shadows), which is the complete opposite of what the Bible says.  The demon locusts were actually drawn to faith according to the film.  The real problem is that the truth of the Gospel was never preached.  It was only presented as believing in God or not.  Repentence and believing/trusting in Jesus to be saved was never preached.

Jesus gives us the Gospel very clearly.

“Repent…” (Matthew 3:2)

““I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live…” (John 11:25a)

So from a Biblical perspective the movie is a HUGE thumbs down.  So… for Christians I do not recommend wasting your money and time by going to the theater to see this film.  If you want to see it, wait until it comes out on DVD.  That way you can rent it from the Red Box for $1.

Trailer:

Note:  The only good thing about seeing the film is I ran into 4 other believers.  I spent a little time talking to two, and they were very interested in prophecy and what is going on in the world currently.  We talked about Jesus and His soon return.  Crystal and Sam were really nice, and it was great to see Christian family members on fire for the Lord.  As true believers, we all have that connection of the Holy Spirit and our faith that binds us together.

Never met anyone or had a discussion at a theater before!

Again, I am happy to be a Biblical consultant on any films Hollywood or others want to make for a faith based audience.