The Messengers (2007)

An ominous darkness invades a seemingly serene sunflower farm in North Dakota, and the Solomon family is torn apart by suspicion, mayhem and murder.

Directors:

Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang

Writers:

Mark Wheaton (screenplay), Todd Farmer (story)

Stars:

Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller, Kristen Stewart

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kristen Stewart	...	Jess
Dylan McDermott	...	Roy
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Denise
John Corbett	...	Burwell
Evan Turner	...	Ben
Theodore Turner	...	Ben
William B. Davis	...	Colby Price
Brent Briscoe	...	Plume
Dustin Milligan	...	Bobby
Jodelle Ferland	...	Michael Rollins
Michael Daingerfield	...	Police Officer
Tatiana Maslany	...	Lindsay Rollins
Shirley McQueen	...	Mary Rollins
Anna Hagan	...	Doctor
Blaine Hart	...	Charlie

Storyline

It's been six years since the Rollins family just up and left and now the troubled Solomon family has come from Chicago, to rebuild their lives following their sons hospitalization due to their daughter's drunk driving accident. But as they start to settle in something odd and strange begins to occur to their son. Could something supernatural be at work, and did the previous family just leave...or are they still here? Trapped in the only place they've ever known? And what did cause their deaths? Most of all...is this 'killer' still very much alive?

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Plot Keywords:

Sunflower | Farm | North Dakota | Murder | Ghost | 

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Taglines:

There is evidence to suggest that children are highly susceptible to paranormal phenomena. They see what adults cannot. They believe what adults deny. And they are trying to warn us.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, disturbing violence and terror

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [fr] Sony Pictures [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Untitled Pang Brothers Horror Project

Filming Locations:

Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£262,562 (UK) (6 April 2007)

Gross:

£704,195 (UK) (13 April 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems, Ghost House Pictures, Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Black and White (flashback scenes) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the film premiere in Minot, North Dakota, when Bobby said "Welcome to North Dakota," the audience broke out in laughter.

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Goofs

The first time Jess goes to the feed store, the first time we see the bulletin board there is no blood drive notice on it, after she goes to look at it, the blood drive notice has appeared.

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Quotes

Jess: [to her brother] You saw it too... didn't you?

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Crazy Credits

The opening titles, feature around surreal shots of the haunted site.

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Connections

References Cold Creek Manor (2003)
both star Kristen Stewart and have a similar basic plot/theme

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Soundtracks

"All My Dreams Are Coming True"
Written and Performed by Ron Keel (ASCAP)
Courtesy Marc Ferrari/MasterSource

User Reviews

Entertaining as it as much eerie

"The Messengers" is a been there, done that, horror about a family who move to a spooky house in the middle of nowhere and then strange things begin to happen. It sounds like you have seen this film before yet the story still keeps you interested and in some cases even intrigued.

A family move from Chicago to an eerie, abandoned farmhouse in North Dakota to start a fresh and to start growing sunflowers on its land, aw. Then the teenager daughter Jess (Kristen Stewart, Panic Room) begins to sense strange happenings from the moment they move in, something just isn't quite right, her toddler brother, Ben, also begins to notice creaking noises and following shadows and the mother (Penelope Ann Miller) just can't get rid of THAT stain on the wall. However, the family don't seem to communicate so everybody just gets on with it without mentioning the strange goings on to other family members. Tut.

Roy the dad, (Dylan McDermott, Miracle on 34th St) then hires Burwell, a man who has literally came from nowhere to help on the farm, just as long as Roy throws in a free dinner. Mysterious Burwell (Aidan from Sex and the City) comes complete with sideburns a beard and a backwards cap, yes, a backwards cap. They are all getting on nicely, the sunflowers are growing, Jess has made a friend in Bobby but mum Denise just can't get THAT stain off the wall. So where did Burwell come from? Please enter ghostly Gollum like figures, shrieking violins, pecking crows and a lot of jumpy movements.

There isn't much new with "The Messengers" but with the film changing which character it's going to focus on every 5 minutes it still manages to keep you entertained and even concerned in what is going to happen. However, we know what is going to happen, don't we? You know what's round the corner, yet you still manage to jump, and I still managed to enjoy it!