I originally saw this movie a few months after seeing Left Behind The Movie and I have to say I was somewhat impressed. Made on a shoestring budget this is an adequate endtimes thriller that adds some new spins to an already over saturated genre.
The movie is essentially an FBI movie set after the rapture in which two agents are investigating the sudden disappearances of thousands/millions of people. What follows is an above average addition to this genre.
The film looks good, considering it's serious lack of budget, and is well acted. It stops just short of becoming a full out action thriller, obviously due again to budgetary constraints. I would have liked to have seen some chances taken with this movie, i.e. some gritty dialogue as well as a little more "realistic" violence, instead the producers opted to make a wholesome and clean movie that would appeal mainly to the Christian community.
The only problem I have with this movie is that it's really nothing new, essentially it has the same scenario as a number of Christian endtime movies, albeit with some interesting plot developments. Unfortunately it comes across at times like a bad cliche.
However, to it's credit the movie does stray off the beaten path a little and tries to include a good story and an unusual aspect for "endtime" is that the producers tried to build the characters to put a human face on it.
Much of the dialogue is well written and delivered well by the actors, although don't expect the writing to be as witty or solid as a Cohen Brothers screenplay. The Moment After does succeed in steering clear of the doom and gloom often associated with "endtime" movies, opting instead for a positive evangelistic experience.
Overall, this is a good film if you like the "endtime" genre and could easily be watched in youth group or church movie night settings. Is The Moment After the Christian answer to the "breaking into mainstream Hollywood" dilemma that has plagued Christian film-makers since day one? Probably not. But it is definitely a step in the right direction. My rating 7/10. CSJ
Watch the Trailer