The Rapture (1991)

Sharon (Mimi Rogers) has a soul-destroying day job as a 411 operator and a soul-destroying night hobby as one-half of a couple constantly on the prowl for others to join them in the bedroom. As she dispassionately looks on while one of her female pick-ups enjoys the ride, Sharon becomes intrigued by her full-back tattoo and can't stop herself from interrupting repeatedly to ask about it. Turns out that noticing the religious-themed inking is the first step in a fast-moving conversion for Sharon. Unfortunately, both the "before" and "after" Sharons are equally disturbing - I didn't want to spend time with either one.

There are some big ideas and compellingly accurate insights about fanaticism here, but it was all told with an attitude of remove, as though the writer had no first-hand experience with true belief. He also didn't seem sure of exactly what happened here himself. Unlike the similarly-themed (and far superior) Frailty, I was left off-balance -- not knowing what had actually happened. I have a hard time being moved when I'm confused.

My overwhelming thought throughout the entire movie was "why does Mimi Rogers mouth keep smearing, stroke-like, to the right?" When the movie in question contains sex addiction, a workplace massacre, and a mystical jailbreak, that points to "less-than-compelling storytelling."

C