Think The X-Files, only more frustrating.

Starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Debra Messing, John Patton
and Alan Bates, The Mothman Prophecies is a suspense-thriller based
on John Keel?s novel of the same title. It revolves around true
events that occurred in Point Pleasant, W.Va. in the late ?60s ,
but is told in contemporary fashion.

John Klein (Gere) is at the top of his game as a reporter for
The Washington Post and is happily married to his wife Mary
(Messing), when the universe zeroes in on them. An accident claims
Mary?s life, but not before she manages to sketch disturbing images
of a moth-like creature she saw on that fateful night.

The story picks up two years later, when on his way to Virginia,
Klein oddly ends up in Point Pleasant, W.Va., some 400 miles off
course. Don?t ask how. He walks up to the nearest house for help
and is attacked by its homeowner, Gordon (Patton) who claims Klein
has been bugging him for the past two nights around the same
time.

Don?t ask how, either.

Fortunately, Sgt. Connie Parker (Linney) comes to the rescue,
explaining to Klein that strange things have been happening lately
in Point Pleasant.

A mysterious creature has been hovering over the sleepy town,
predicting tragedies that come true. The creature is a red-eyed,
winged creature that looks like?you guessed it? a mothman.

With the help of a mothman researcher (Bates), Klein is prompted
to investigate the paranormal activities that seem vaguely related
to his wife?s death.

As the movie slowly progresses through a smattering of
philosophical meanderings, Klein is taken to the depths of his
sanity ?. as well as my own.

Director Mark Pellington creates a dark and brooding atmosphere
for The Mothman Prophecies, using a patchwork of surreal images
with cinematographic flair. But if you?re expecting the mothman to
come out at you with a boo, you?ll be disappointed.

Pellington conveniently spares us the post-movie nightmares of
graphic terror, but the story is still effectively chilling.

While Gere?s performance is lackluster, Linney gives a strong
performance as the skeptical local cop. Will & Grace star
Messing actually does pretty well; one could wish she stayed alive
long enough to impress us more.

However unsettling the whole gig is, The Mothman Prophecies is
long-winded and cluttered with unnecessary details. Absolutely zero
is happening for most of the film?except for a few scary
episodes?but it does culminate in a gripping climax that made
headlines in 1967.

This movie takes some time for things to fall into place. Not
that it completely does, because it seems to have neglected to fill
in some loopholes. Klein must have unbelievably stepped into a
twilight zone of sorts to end up in Point Pleasant. Why him? Why
only two years after? What has his wife got to do with it? Is the
mothman an emissary of bad news, or is it the angel of death
himself?

And while little mothmen are still fluttering over my baffled
head, I wonder if Pellington purposely left out the answers to make
a point: There are some things beyond human comprehension. Someone
hand me a swatter, please.

Grade: C+