allyatherton A drifter loses her memory after an accident to find herself in a strange townStarring Christina Ricci, Ioan Gruffudd and Kerry FoxScreenplay by Anthony HorowitzDirected by Brian GilbertThis is a case of a cool idea being poorly executed.When you think about it, this is the kind of twisty idea that could only come out of Anthony Horowitz's head. But it doesn't quite work on the TV screen. It's sadly a bit of a limp biscuit as far as movies are concerned.Everything about it screams low budget. The acting, the cinematography, the location filming. It's all very underwhelming. Arguable the best actor in it, Christina Ricci herself seems miscast and none of the other acting performances are anything to shout about.This would probably make an amazing book and I'm guessing Horowitz would do a good job of it.Watchable but instantly forgettable.6/10

Leofwine_draca Despite promise throughout, THE GATHERING is a rather weak slice of horror that proves perfectly watchable but comes across as an extended episode of MIDSOMER MURDERS more than anything else. It has that cosy TV movie feel to it, despite the odd burst of violence, and the play-it-safe script from popular author Anthony Horowitz doesn't break new ground at any point.The story begins with an American tourist involved in a car accident where she obtains a serious head injury. Suffering amnesia, she goes to live with a household in a village, and soon grows close to a young boy in the family. However, she's plagued with violent premonitions of his death. Meanwhile, the boy's father is uncovering the mystery of a mural depicting the last days of Christ.THE GATHERING is a sometimes-atmospheric production that occasionally brings to mind the air of spooky mystery in something like THE WICKER MAN. Unfortunately, more often than not it falls flat, thanks to weak plotting and a generally unfocused storyline. Christina Ricci feels out of place and it doesn't help that her character is one of those protagonists who doesn't actually have anything to do with the main storyline. Ioan Gruffudd is there for his looks alone, although Stephen Dillane (GAME OF THRONES) is more interesting as the father figure. The likes of Kerry Fox, Robert Hardy, and Simon Russell Beale barely get a look in during this oddly muted and non-suspenseful tale.

trashgang I just bought it for the reason that Ricci was in it. Somehow she has a special face to act in this kind of flicks. But not every flick she's in it is that good. She does deliver good acting but the story is a bit too unbelievable. Of course it's about the supernatural but some things made me yawn. This must be flick 13412476673656 about Christianity and the mystery surrounding it. But for me it failed somehow due the lack of horror in it. It's just a story, nothing more nothing less. If you can't take gore or blood then this is surely one for you but for the geeks I wouldn't 'gather' with your friends to watch it. The surely would damn you. It's one to watch with the family on a Saturday night kids allowed. At the end you could better go watch The Omen or Stigmata or something like that. Or if the kids are still awake, The Craft. Sorry, Christina Ricci, I invocate you to do better in an "after.life".

johnstonjames a lot of critics didn't like this. i thought it was pretty good. a little under developed and under nourished, but i heard it was edited by about ten minutes. those few minutes would have helped clarify the plot a little more. but as it was, i really liked the premise.it was about a group of cursed souls that witnessed the crucifixion of Christ and either did nothing but watch, or came to see the violence like some come to enjoy executions.this film really was a statement on the death penalty and our fascination with cruelty and our indifference to the suffering of others. those things may or may not damn us eternally, only God in Heaven knows these answers, but the speculation here is something to ponder. in all my years of living i have observed people to be either very cruel or very callous to the suffering of others. i see so much hardship and so little caring, it's very disturbing. many people know the stories, the woman in New York crying for help while people close their windows and do nothing. the soldiers in Afghanistan who went on a killing spree of innocent civilians recently,...need i go further? it's too depressing so lets not.do these things damn us? well, i happen to be a Baptist so maybe i'm not the right person to ask.this was a good film though. it had a lot more to say than a lot of critics would want you to think.