Legion DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: God Cast in Unusual Role as Villain in Apocalyptic Horror Flick

How often do you have a film where God’s the villain? Very rarely, indeed. However, just such a novel scenario provides the intriguing premise for Legion, a blasphemous, apocalyptic adventure designed to delight the atheist demographic. The movie marks the directorial debut of Scott Stewart who assembled an A-List cast to serve as sacrificial lambs for the sake of his high attrition-rate horror flick. That talented ensemble includes Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Tyrese, Charles S. Dutton and Lucas Black.
The story unfolds a couple of days before Christmas when the Archangel Michael (Bettany) arrives in L.A. on a mission from God to eradicate mankind from the face of the Earth, because the Lord has lost faith in the human race. Lucky for us, Michael decides to defect and to fight the army of fellow angels arriving in his wake.
Meanwhile, in the Mojave Desert, there are some strange goings-on at a truck stop diner prophetically-named Paradise Falls. There, we meet about to pop Charlie (Adrianne Malicki), a mom-too-be who shares a nearby trailer with auto mechanic Jeep (Black). He’s an ardent admirer, but not the father of the baby. Underachieving Jeep has mostly been a big disappointment to his dad, Bob (Dennis Quaid), the widowed owner of the rundown service station/restaurant. The only other employee on the premises is Percy (Dutton), the greasy spoon’s one-armed chef.
The fun starts when an elderly woman on a walker (Jeanette Miller) inexplicably exhibits superhuman strength before taking a big bite out of the neck of another customer (Jon Tenney). As it turns out, this possessed demon is actually out to abort Charlie’s unborn infant, who might very well be the Second Coming of Christ. Fortunately, streetwise Kyle (Tyrese) happens to be packing heat, and he blows granny away, making the bug-eyed observation that, “The bitch just walked on the ceiling.”
From this juncture forward, the tale telescopes in on the people’s valiant struggle to survive as they barricade themselves inside the diner to brace for the onslaught of a holy horde led by the Archangel Gabriel. With the help of Michael, who’s got guns and ammo, the ensuing battle royal between good and evil gives humans a fighting chance against God.
It’s a wonderful life where every time you hear a whelp ring out, another angel gets his head blown off.

Good (2 stars)
Rated R for profanity and graphic violence.
Running time: 100 Minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: “Creating the Apocalypse - Behind the Physical Effects,” “Humanity's Last Line of Defense - The Cast and Characters,” and “From Pixels to Picture - A Look at the Visual Effects.”