Red Lights (10/2/2012)

Rated R for language and some violence.

Starring Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro

Directed by Rodrigo Cortes (Buried)

Have you ever wondered if those psychics are real? Well, I promise this movie won’t help you.

Veteran paranormal researchers Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy) debunk fraudulent claims of ghost whispering, faith healing and other psychic phenomena by detecting what Matheson calls “red lights,” the subtle tricks behind every staged supernatural occurrence. But when the legendary blind psychic Simon Silver (Robert De Niro) comes out of retirement after 30 years, his once-fearless adversary Matheson warns Buckley to back off, fearing reprisal from the powerful Silver.

Determined to discredit Silver, Buckley and his star student (Elizabeth Olsen) use every tool at their disposal to uncover the truth behind the charismatic, spoon-bending, mind reader. But Buckley is forced to reexamine his own core beliefs as his quest builds to a mind-blowing conclusion.

Right out of the gate this movie had a lot going for it. Decent cast, cool story and a talented director; but somewhere along the way everything just fell apart.

The story got darker, the cast got weirder and I lost interest. And that mind-blowing conclusion in the synopsis…not so mind blowing.

Besides all the major flaws, there were several very amateurish moves. Like the “young” De Niro that doesn’t really look like De Niro and the “Oprah” character that was poorly cast, poorly acted and should have been edited out completely. Not to mention the dozen “news reporters” standing in the rain each giving us one or two lines…it looked more like a skit at junior high camp. There is also a fight scene that is so unrealistic it makes The Expendables look believable.

At the end Tom says, “I’m not exactly sure what happened…” I feel the exact same way. This one is a “Coaster.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No one should see it…I just said it was a coaster.

OK, in all seriousness, there is no sex or nudity, but the whole theme of the movie deals with the paranormal and may be disturbing for many viewers. For example, when De Niro’s character appears to perform surgery on another man using just his fingers. We see blood coming from the surgery and pieces of flesh are removed from the wound. We also see Tom get beaten pretty severely by another man and there is a lot of blood.

As far as profanity goes, there are 5 F-bombs and a couple other obscenities.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. In this movie we see several “unexplainable” events…explained. What were some of those events?


2. Have you ever watched a psychic and wondered how they did what they did?
3. Read Leviticus 20:6
   
   I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.

   And Leviticus 19:31
   Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.

   
   What are two things we learn from these verses? (SOME mediums are real and we need to stay away from them)


4. I understand that “knowing our future” may be tempting, but we serve a God how KNOWS the future and He asks us to trust Him. What are some of the things in our future that we wish we knew?


5. What are some ways we can trust him with those unknown things?