The Gathering (2002)

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writer:

Anthony Horowitz (written by)

Release Date:

15 May 2003 (Singapore)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil Souls Rule.

Plot:

While going to the town of Ashby Wake, the drifter Cassie is hit by a car driven by Marion Kirkman and loses her memory...

Plot Keywords:

Church | Archeologist | Amnesia | Supernatural

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Christina Ricci	...	Cassie Grant
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Dan Blakeley
Stephen Dillane	...	Simon Kirkman
Kerry Fox	...	Marion Kirkman
Simon Russell Beale	...	Luke Fraser
Robert Hardy	...	The Bishop
Harry Forrester	...	Michael Kirkman
Jessica Mann	...	Emma Kirkman
Peter McNamara	...	Frederick Michael Argyle
Mark Bagnall	...	The Gathering
Clare Bloomer	...	The Gathering
Mackenzie Crook	...	The Gathering
Richard Evans	...	The Gathering
Roy Evans	...	The Gathering
Paul Hamilton	...	The Gathering
Jason Morell	...	The Gathering
Fenella Norman	...	The Gathering
Robert Paschall Jr.	...	The Gathering
Diana Payan	...	The Gathering
Jacqueline Phillips	...	The Gathering
Eugene Walker	...	The Gathering
Anatol Yusef	...	The Gathering
Bridget Turner	...	Mrs. Groves
Madhav Sharma	...	Dr. Byworth
Jon Croft	...	The Vicar
Richard Syms	...	Churchman
Malcolm Terris	...	The Mayor
Peter Wight	...	Dave Elford
Glen Davies	...	Barry
Gary Whitaker	...	Jez
Chris Barnes	...	Chris
Siobhan Hewlett	...	Janie
Oliver Chris	...	Brett
David J. Curtis	...	Police Officer (as David Curtis)
Blair Plant	...	Father Bernard
Joseph Miller	...	Young Fred Argyle
Alex Dower	...	Male Van Pusher
Natalie Press	...	Female Van Pusher

Directed by
Brian Gilbert

Writing credits
Anthony Horowitz		(written by)

Produced by
Steve Clark-Hall	....	line producer
Pippa Cross	....	producer
Rachel Cuperman	....	associate producer
Patrick McKenna	....	executive producer
Marc Samuelson	....	producer
Peter Samuelson	....	producer

Original Music by
Anne Dudley

Cinematography by
Martin Fuhrer

Film Editing by
Masahiro Hirakubo

Production Design by
Caroline Amies

Art Direction by
Frank Walsh

Costume Design by
Nic Ede

Makeup Department
Paul Gooch	....	daily makeup artist
Veronica McAleer	....	daily makeup artist (as Veronica Brebner)
Nikita Rae	....	hair stylist
Nikita Rae	....	makeup artist
Jemma Scott-Knox-Gore	....	contact lens technician
Matthew Smith	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Liz Tagg	....	hair designer
Liz Tagg	....	makeup designer
Isabel While	....	makeup trainee
Julie Wright	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jo Farr	....	production manager
James Grant	....	unit manager
Miranda Jones	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Howarth	....	second assistant director
Andrew McEwan	....	co-second assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	first assistant director
Alex Oakley	....	co-second assistant director
Douglas M. Ray	....	third assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Carl Apsey	....	construction crew (as Karl Apsey)
Leon Apsey	....	construction crew
Ken Barley	....	construction crew
Keith Batterbee	....	construction crew
Ronald Bede	....	stagehand
Guy Bradley	....	assistant art director
David Bubb	....	construction manager
Matthew Bubb	....	construction crew
Wayne Day	....	construction crew
Lee Edwards	....	construction crew
Luke Furlonger	....	sculptor
Michael Gardener	....	construction crew
John Greaves	....	storyboard artist
Brian Hartnoll	....	stand-by painter
John Hedges	....	construction crew
Kevin Hedges	....	construction crew
Terry Heggarty	....	construction crew
John Hogan	....	dressing props
Emily Lutyens	....	art department assistant
Steve Macdonald	....	stand-by props (as Steve McDonald)
Bradley Malin	....	construction crew
Steve Malin	....	construction crew
Maxie McDonald	....	property master
Joe Monks	....	construction crew (as Joseph Monks)
Joe Monks	....	supervising painter
Keith Muir	....	construction crew
Neil Murrum	....	dressing props (as Neil Murram)
Paul Nash	....	construction crew
Paul Nott-Macaire	....	construction crew
Jerry Padany	....	art department consultant
Stelios Polychronakis	....	assistant art director
Peter Rutherford	....	production buyer
Michael Simpson	....	construction crew
Michael Tammen	....	art department trainee
Paul Wescott	....	hod scenic painter
Paul Whitelock	....	construction crew
Clive Wilson	....	storeman
Mickey Woolfson	....	stand-by props (as Michael Woolfson)

Sound Department
Albert Bailey	....	sound recordist
Bob Baron	....	adr recordist: USA
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
John Chandler	....	boom operator
Ed Colyer	....	adr recordist (as Edward Colyer)
Ed Colyer	....	foley recordist (as Edward Colyer)
Andie Derrick	....	foley artist (as Andi Derrick)
Mike Dowson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Farr	....	adr recordist: UK
Nigel Galt	....	adr recordist: USA
Stefan Henrix	....	supervising sound editor
Alex Hudd	....	sound consultant: dolby
Andy Kennedy	....	sound effects editor
David Lay	....	sound
David McDonald	....	adr recordist: USA (as Dave McDonald)
Nneka Meka	....	sound trainee: FT2
Katherine Gordon Miller	....	assistant sound editor
Ian Silvester	....	technical engineer
Mark Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor
David Tyler	....	assistant foley recordist
James Boyle	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Andy Bunce	....	special effects technician
Richard Conway	....	special effects supervisor
Sam Conway	....	special effects technician
Stephen Paton	....	senior technician
Nick Smith	....	special effects technician
Mark White	....	special effects technician
Tim Willis	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Angela Barson	....	digital compositor
Simon Cox	....	data operators
Mark Curtis	....	digital compositor
Stefan Drury	....	visual effects producer
Michael Elson	....	head of production
Richard Etchells	....	data operators
Ed Hawkins	....	visual effects supervisor
Rob Hill	....	data operators
Martin Hobbs	....	supervising visual effects producer
Douglas Larmour	....	digital compositor
Stuart Lashley	....	digital compositor
Jessica Norman	....	digital compositor
Matthew Packham	....	data operators
Gregory Salter	....	visual effects supervisor
Sally Spencer	....	data operators
John Van Hoey Smith	....	data operator

Stunts
Lucy Allen	....	stunt double: Christina Ricci
Shelly Benison	....	stunts
Bruce Cain	....	stunts
Helen Caldwell	....	stunts
Stuart Clark	....	stunts
Ray De-Haan	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Jim Dowdall	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Jamie Edgell	....	stunts
Sarah Franzl	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunts
Richard Hammatt	....	stunts
Paul Heasman	....	stunts
Eunice Huthart	....	stunts
Morgan Johnson	....	stunts
Crispin Layfield	....	stunts
Derek Lea	....	stunts
Tony Lucken	....	stunts
Jo McLaren	....	stunts
Seon Rogers	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Webb	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Bell	....	electrician
Niel Blackman	....	generator operator
Steve Blythe	....	rigging electrician
Jim Boorer	....	grip
Adam Dale	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Aaron Douglas	....	crane operator
Dan Fontaine	....	best boy electric
Wilf France	....	clapper loader: second unit
Guy Frost	....	clapper loader
Roy Furness	....	rigging gaffer
Nicky George	....	camera trainee: FT2
Mark Goldeman	....	stand-by rigger (as Mark Godleman)
Stewart Hadley	....	gaffer
Kevin Higgins	....	grip: second unit
Andy Hopkins	....	daily grip
Alex Howe	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Stuart Howell	....	Steadicam operator
Stuart Howell	....	camera operator
Sacha Jones	....	camera trainee
Graham Martyr	....	first assistant camera
Andy McBrearty	....	rigging electrician
Keith McNamara	....	focus puller: second unit
Dave McWhinney	....	rigging electrician (as Dave MacWinney)
Spencer Murray	....	assistant camera
Spencer Murray	....	clapper loader: second unit
Luke Myslowski	....	assistant grip
Peter Myslowski	....	key grip
Lee Parfitt	....	electrician (as Lee Parfit)
Chris Plevin	....	camera operator: second unit
Philip Sindall	....	camera operator: second unit
Peter Versey	....	camera operator: second unit
Frankie Webster	....	rigging electrician
Garie Wetherill	....	key video assist operator
Garie Wetherill	....	video playback operator

Casting Department
Pippa Hall	....	casting: children
Donald Paul Pemrick	....	casting: USA (as Donald Pemrick)
Terri Taylor	....	casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Camilla Fiddian-Green	....	costume supervisor
Melissa Layton	....	wardrobe mistress (as Melissa Layton-Skorepa)
Sally Puttick	....	costume assistant
Christof Roche-Gordon	....	costumer
Mike Skorepa	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Mike Fraser	....	negative cutter
Neil Williams	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Haydon Bendall	....	score mixer
Amy Coffey	....	music supervisor
Anne Dudley	....	conductor
Anne Dudley	....	music producer
Roger Dudley	....	music co-producer
Karen Elliott	....	score coordinator
Steve Price	....	music engineer
David Rubinson	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Guy Bostock	....	action vehicle coordinator
Ian Clarke	....	vehicle technician
Enyo Mortty	....	unit driver
Gary Skull	....	transportation coordinator
Sean Thornton	....	picture vehicle technician

Other crew
John Adams	....	military advisor
Luke Boyle	....	production runner
Nickie Bryar	....	assistant to producers
James Chasey	....	stand-in
Tom Chisman	....	location scout
Robin Craine	....	production runner
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Tim Desbois	....	helicopter coordinator
Julia Finn	....	unit publicist
Jacky Fitt	....	assistant to producers
Mike Fraser	....	rushes transfer
Sarah Garner	....	script supervisor
Tessa Gibbs	....	script consultant
Tom Glaisyer	....	floor runner
Rob Grundy	....	supervising armorer
Sasha Harris	....	production coordinator
Christian Henson	....	drum programmer
Saryl Hirsch	....	accountant: USA
Rebecca Hodgson	....	development executive
Patrick Isherwood	....	production accountant
Nisha Jani	....	assistant to producer
Julia Jones	....	unit publicist
Kate Jones	....	assistant: Christina Ricci
Martin Joy	....	location scout
Martin Lewis	....	accountant: UK
Natalie Lovatt	....	location assistant
Alex Micklewright	....	production assistant
Clive Miles	....	location manager
Nick Oliver	....	location scout
Jessica Parker	....	production secretary
Emma Pill	....	location manager
Douglas M. Ray	....	assistant to director
James Reggel	....	assistant accountant
Daniela Ryan	....	assistant to producers
Isaac Sananes	....	assistant accountant
Joy Schoenborn	....	accountant: UK
Helen Slaymaker	....	stand-in
Graham Smith	....	unit publicist
Jennifer Soemantri	....	assistant to producers
Imogen Stringer	....	assistant coordinator
Rebecca Sutton	....	production coordinator
Paulene Tann	....	accountant: UK
Rachel Wardlow	....	production runner
David Wheal	....	production runner
Steve Fletcher	....	on-set tutor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Granada Film Productions (presents) (as Granada Film)
• Isle of Man Film Commission (in association with) (as The Isle of Man Film Commission)
• Samuelson Productions

Distributors

• Capitol Films (2002) (worldwide) (all media)
• Constantin Film (2003) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Dimension Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Best Film CO (2004) (Poland) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Distribution Company (Argentina)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Reel Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Swift Distribution (France)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (VHS)
• Weinstein Company, The

Special Effects

• Animated Extras
• Cine Image Film Opticals (main and end titles)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• AFM Lighting  lighting
• Angel Studios  music recorded at
• Bapty and Co.  armourers
• DeLuxe Laboratories  film lab
• Edit Hire  post-production facilities
• Flight Logistics Ltd.  aerial photography
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr facilities
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting
• Panavision UK  camera equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production scripts
• Shepperton Sound  sound recorded at
• Sound Design Company, The  post-production sound
• Universal Combat Limited  military casting
• Willie's Wheels  transports

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

Austria:92 min | Argentina:92 min | France:96 min | Brazil:83 min | USA:92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | USA:R (certificate #38945) | Netherlands:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:MA (2009) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:16 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Peru:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Isle of Man

Company:

Granada Film Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The buried Christian church with its elaborate bas relief - the premise upon which the story is built - belongs at least a millennium later than the archeologist's asserted "1st century" date. Christianity at that time was a tiny, obscure, Jewish sect that met in people's homes in and around Palestine (a long way from England.) The gospels weren't even written until the last third of the 1st century, let alone cathedrals with renaissance statuary built on the other side of the known world.

Quotes:

The Bishop: They came only to see, from the east and from the west, from the city and from the plain. They came not, in holy reverence to the lord, but in lust.

Must-see for suspense-thriller fans

I have to say, I've seen some very contradicting reviews of this film, so even though I have to give it "two thumbs up", obviously there are others with exactly the opposite opinion.

I've heard comparisons to "The Sixth Sense" and "The Exorcist", and my first comment is that I believe this film stands alone. I didn't see those other movies because I had no desire to, and although I've seen bits and pieces of them since, doing so changed nothing for me. Neither their trailers nor pieces of them impressed me, or intrigued my need for a real mystery.

Ever since the first time I saw a "making of" for "The Gathering", however, it sparked my interest.

And I believe, without comparing it to any other film, this movie comes through.

In the opening, it begins like a "classic horror", because there is "tragedy" (read that: blood). When Christina Ricci's character, Cassie, comes on the scene, there is the mystery of Who She Is - she doesn't know, no one knows. Although the character didn't really seem to have much depth, at least in the beginning, I didn't see that as as major drawback. How can someone with amnesia be deep?

Then the rest of the story unfolds: the uncovering of a major historical find with religious connections and sinister spiritual overtones. The appearance of people that Cassie believes may be following her or are at least Up To No Good, the visions that she has - all gruesome or violent, the child who won't speak but who seems to share her visions and growing panic, the church's establishment of what seems to be verifiable supernatural occurences throughout history related to the historical find and the people that Cassie sees. And the always-nagging question - Who Is She? and What Is About To Happen?

Maybe I am more naive than those cynical folks who didn't enjoy this movie. I don't go to classic horrors where blood is spilled everywhere, but I have seen almost every "devil" or "church" or "witch" movie I can get my hands on (without mass murdering, that is), as well as quite a few in the "thriller" genre.

And I would say that the suspense I felt while watching this movie was well-established. I tried to guess Who She Was, and I tried to guess What Would Happen Next, but for at least 2/3 of the movie this just wasn't possible for me.

For me, the "surprise" ending really was a surprise, although it unfortunately wasn't really the ending. I think the only drawback for me was that after the "surprise" was revealed, the movie went on to become more obvious, and the last scene seemed by then rather superfluous. Having said that, this didn't negate my overall enjoyment.

So I say, if you like "psycho-thrillers" (or whatever this genre is actually called), this is a movie for you. If you want rich character development and everything discussed and examined about the profoundness of being human and dealing with life-altering decisions, you need to pick a different movie.