There are no coincidences...Only lousy writers

Rating: 3/10 (7 March 2010)

Let's be blunt. There are three good things about this movie, and I gave them 1 point each: 1) the acting. 2) Strange as it sounds, some very (intentionally) funny lines 3) It is a piecemeal of much better movies on the same subjects which you briefly relive until sadly reminded this is not one of them.
1) The acting in this movie from Gibson down to the little girl is so good that it confirms the old saying that good actors can work with the worst material. It is one of those films we (cough) macho men hate because it makes you cry. Rather, the actors make you cry when they do. The little girl will break your heart several times.
2) The writers should have stuck to comedy. From wearing foil hats to other silliness there are quite a few light touches in the first half of the film that almost make it worth watching. Almost.
3) Unfortunately 99% of the film is not "horror", "sci if" or anything other than an unintentionally funny mess. It is a poorly connected ripoff of better films from the Exorcist to Close Encounters to War of the Worlds. Not an "homage" as some would pretend but a lousy reflection like seeing a beautiful painting reflected in a full toilet.
If you can see it for free or cheap, fine. But don't pay money unless you intend to laugh at a trashy mass of plot holes & ripoff of better works. And that's no coincidence.