Andre van Heerden on the set of Left Behind: World at War

A journalist for a French publication recently asked for my perspectives on the recent rash of spiritual end-times type films. Below are the questions and answers – many of which I’m sure will make others shake their heads.

Q: What are your views on films like: The Book of Eli, Legion, Solomon Kane, The Reaping, The Road…

A: I think there are two things going on with this sudden rash of ‘end-times’ type films. One is a case of art reflecting life. Much as animals can sense when a storm or earthquake is coming, I think people can sense when big world-shifting events are coming. Whether it be speculation about the Mayan’s predictions about 2012 or the increase in strange weather and earthquakes, or global epidemics and issues in the Middle East, it does seem like something ‘big’ is coming. And once such a bold prediction is entertained more theories and counter-theories and other theories are shared. Which spurs on the artistic community so more books, art and films all reflect the same thing. When we were approaching the year 2000 there was also a big increase in end-times’ interest. That’s when the LEFT BEHIND series of books and films became hugely popular and spurred many sequels. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s END OF DAYS came out in 1999, followed by LOST SOULS (2000) and BLESS THE CHILD (2000) which all dealt with end of the world spiritual themes. Soon it becomes very difficult to tell if the end-times topic was popular and the media focused on it or if the media focused on something which then made it popular. Like with everything though, if there’s an interest somewhere, people are going to build and feed upon that interest.

The second part of this is purely creative. The core of any good story – in any genre – is conflict. “End Times” films naturally have huge conflicts and obstacles for their characters and therefore are ripe for compelling stories. I generally like the fact that Hollywood is recognizing this because I like these dramatic stories. I enjoyed CHILDREN OF MEN and I AM LEGEND and even 28 DAYS LATER. I’m looking forward to seeing THE BOOK OF ELI. Unfortunately I think THE ROAD is too bleak and really without a point and films like LEGION and THE REAPING take too many liberties and stretch the ‘established rules’ or ‘cannons’ too far without gaining anything.

Q: Where do you stand on violence in the cinema?

A: I have been a movie lover for many years. I’ve watched all genres of films and am much more attracted to interesting stories than any particular genre or star of filmmaker. Violence has a place in some films because without it they wouldn’t work. One of my all time favorite films is WITNESS starring Harrison Ford. It has a gritty realistic murder at the opening that is witnessed by a young, Amish boy. That scene was absolutely necessary to the film. In more of a cartoon way the violence of DIE HARD and JAMES BOND are also necessary to the story and entertainment of the film. Even in horror films like THE DESCENT or FROM HELL, the violence and gore are part of the story and effect. I don’t agree however with violence that doesn’t serve the plot or build upon the character. I thought Cronenberg’s THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE was a very strong film but there were two shots in it that literally took me out of the story and made me think: “what was the point of that?”

Q: Does he think the Hollywood productions I’ve mentioned are too violent to appeal to Christian sensibilities?

A: Despite what some media sources will have you believe, Christians are people just like everyone else. And because we’re regular people we’re all different. Some Christians will enjoy action films. Others will enjoy chick-flicks. Others will like horror films. Some yearn for the old classics. Some will argue that THE LORD OF THE RINGS is a Christian film – because it’s good fighting against evil. Because of this, there are going to be many Christians who don’t mind the violence of these films. And there going to be many who do. One of our most recent films, SAVING GOD starring Ving Rhames, has been both praised for its realism and grit and condemned for it, all from Christian reviewers.

Ving Rhames in a scene from Cloud Ten Pictures' film Saving God

Q: Is it impossible to show the apocalypse or a post-apocalyptic world without showing violence of some sort?

A: Every story is going to have certain elements that you MUST show or tackle to tell it effectively. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST would have been pointless if it didn’t show the suffering of Christ on the cross. That was the point. SCHINDLER’S LIST would have been pointless without showing the cruelty of the holocaust. That was the point. Anyone who is familiar with the Bible knows that it tells many extremely violent and disturbing stories. Scriptures that deal with the “apocalypse” (book of Matthew and Revelation etc.) do describe terrifying events. Depending on the genre and the story being told, it may be necessary to show the horror of the apocalypse to tell the story honestly.

Q: Are the Hollywood horror and thriller genres by their very nature impossible to reconcile with the message of Christianity?

A: The review that I’m most proud of for one of my films, REVELATION, was from the pornographic magazine “Hustler”. In it our film only received 2.5 stars out of 4. However, the very fact that such a magazine noticed our film, classified it as a Thriller / Horror and gave it a decent review, was very significant. It meant that the film (which follows a government agent looking for his missing family in a post apocalyptic world) which has a Christian theme to it, was being watched as a straight-up entertaining thriller. It meant that the film’s theme was being shared through entertainment with people who would never step foot in a church or listen to a sermon. When Jesus told stories they weren’t always rated “G”. The very story of Christ’s crucifixion is definitely rated “R” and it’s the most essential one of all.

Q: What role, if any, do genre films (horror movies, thrillers and action films) play in today’s religion?

A: The old film-making maxim of “the story is King” dictates what genre your film will be in. It may be a horror film. It may be a gritty drama or action. It may also have a theme of redemption and hope. The genre itself does not dictate the theme. Therefore a movie with a Christian theme can be in any genre – just as about any theme could be.

- Blog/interview by Andre van Heerden, Executive Director/Producer at Cloud Ten Pictures