5/5 Well Crafted Storytelling
  by Damian P. Gadal (Santa Barbara, CA USA)
Storytelling has come up short of late, but that's not the case here. An interesting story that weaves along building up suspense with many unexpected twists and turns that will engage the viewer. If you're tired of the mindless special effects rush based on very thin plots, give this film a shot. I think you'll be glad you did. I'd never heard of this movie before, so I didn't know what to expect. It was a pleasant viewing surprise.

4/5 Surprisingly Entertaining
  by Graboidz (Westminster, Maryland)
To be honest, I didn't expect much with "The Gathering". For some reason I thought this was another re-make of a Japanese Ghost story, and it would play out in similar fashion as "Shutter", "The Ring" or "One Missed Call". Boy was I wrong on that one!

"The Gathering" is not a fright-a-minute flick. It's not packed with tons of cheap scares, you aren't jolted out of your chair by something suddenly jumping onscreen as the music blares. "The Gathering" is more about eerie tone, setting a creepy mood, and packing an unusual but compelling story into its 90 minute running time. If you like a dark, slowly paced horror film that is more about atmosphere than blood, then you will enjoy "The Gathering".

Cristina Ricci plays a young girl named Cassie. Cassie has an accident, and can't seem to remember why she is in the small town of Ashby Wake, she is taken in by the Kirkman family while she recovers. Simon Kirkman is an art historian who was called to the area to investigate a 1st century chuch that has recently been discovered, which features an unusual relief on its walls. Cassie befriends the Kirkman's two children and feels drawn to almost autistic young Michael. Cassie begins to have strange visions, visions of violence and bloodshed, and just why is she being followed by a strange group of men and women where ever she goes?

As I stated earlier, the film is about tone and mood. Don't go into "The Gathering" looking for a thrills a minutes horror tale, this one is all about the build and anticipation. I'm not sure why this movie is below the radar, but it's well worth discovering, and much better than the slew of Americanized-Japanese ghost stories that were so prevelant in the early 2000's.

2/5 Spare Us, Jeebus, from Another Religious Conspiracy Movie
  by A. O. Sheepfielder (Chicago, IL USA)
Usually the Catholics are the ones accused of fiendishly twisting their rosaries and plotting "The Biggest Cover-Up in History." In "The Gathering," it's the Church of England. So take THAT, Vicar of Dibley!

Christina Ricci plays Cassie, an American-accented gal wandering around the English countryside for some reason, who pops out of a roadside hedgerow and gets plowed into by a BWM. Miraculously (or ominously?), Cassie survives with just a bump on her head - plus a plot-driving case of amnesia - and gets offered a job by the BMW's driver, who was probably terrified of getting sued if she didn't offer Cassie something. I suspect this is also how Christina Ricci landed her role in this movie. Down and out in Hollywood? Throw yourself in front of a BWM and hope there's a casting director at the wheel.

In between not remembering stuff and taking care of the BWM lady's kids (her compensation for getting run over), Cassie has freaky premonitions, gets barked at by a spooky dog, makes friends with the stretchy guy from "Fantastic 4", and winds up intertwined with an ancient churchy cover-up which, coincidentally, is also being investigated by the BMW lady's art professor husband. Eventually, it all comes together in something resembling a twist ending. Spoiler alert! Oh-m'-gosh, Cassie's amnesia turns out to be important.

In sum, I'd say that "The Gathering" is equal parts "The Omen," "The DaVinci Code," "The Sixth Sense," and pretty much every amnesia-themed movie ever made. And not the good parts, either. No, I'm talking about the hot-dog-makin' parts. The hooves and whatchamacallit-holes.

"The Gathering" isn't scary. It isn't sexy. It isn't provacative. I get the feeling that it could have been. Maybe. If the the filmmakers had tried harder. Or at all. But I suppose it wouldn't be very "British" then. Thrillers from Across the Pond seem to focus more on being eerie - fog and squeaking floors and duplicitous nannies - than on being bollocks-to-the wall scary. Sometimes that works for me (e.g. "The Others") and sometimes it doesn't. "The Gathering" is definitely a "doesn't".

5/5 Very good movie
  by Blood Bath (Texas)
Loved this movie. This is the first time in a while that I was not able to guess the ending right off the bat. Christina Ricci sure has grown up. Grown up in all the right places. She reminds me a lot of Summer Glau from The Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles.

4/5 Not Bad...Really...
  by R. Gawlitta (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA)
I enjoyed this film probably more than most. I'm a big fan of Christina Ricci, and she did not disappoint. Without blabbing away the plot, this is quite original for a psychological suspense film, and the religious overtones add a bit of "mystery play" to the proceedings. The handsome Ioan Gruffudd is around a little to provide a bit of potential romantic interest, but it's Stephen Dillane who really keeps things centered. He's very fine. The surprise ending was clever, and, overall, "The Gathering" is worth a look.