Plot Summary
Matt and Jason were best friends, but when Matt dies of cancer, Jason is left asking why. Matt was a Christian, and he wanted Jason to be as well, so Matt appears to Jason in a vision and shows Jason where God keeps the sins of everybody written down, where Jesus died on the cross, and what will happen if Jason’s mother tries to save herself without God. Jason wakes up so scared that he has to become a Christian!
Production Quality (1.5 points)
Much like other older films affiliated with the Christiano Brothers brand, The Crossing is an archaic production with a loud and outdated soundtrack. While video quality and camera work are mostly fine, and sets, locations, and props are okay, there aren’t any other positives to note. There are a lot of very cheesy special effects used throughout, and there are too many background noises. Editing also suffers, including choppy cuts and a very abruptly awkward ending. Unfortunately, while this was intended to be a youth group film (probably from the Christian Film Library of Pamela’s Prayer), youth leaders will be hard-pressed to get anyone interested in this.
Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)
On the surface, this film has a good message, but it still has the typical overtures of films associated with the Christiano brand, such as the Christian characters being perfect non-sinners and the non-Christian characters being very obvious sinners. Thus, the characters serve as stand-ins for plot points and spout programmed dialogue that is designed to push and project a specifically forceful and fundamentalist message. As usual, the plot is out of touch with real people and uses tactics designed to ‘scare’ people into being saved, which are highly questionable and unlikely to be successful. Besides this, the ‘storyline’ has a quick and rushed progression and completely lacks substance. Unfortunately, there’s nothing good to say here.
Acting Quality (1 point)
The Crossing reveals some of the origins of the crazy, overly dramatic acting of the dynamic duo Kevin Downes and David A. R. White. Other cast members in this film bear the resemblance of stoic Christiano cast members. However, there are some good moments somewhere in here that keep this section from being zero.
Conclusion
All we can do with a film like this is hope it serves as a reminder of how not to make a ‘youth film.’ People that like this sort of garbage also complain about all the ‘bad movies young people watch these days.’ Well, with stuff like this being shown in church, who’s really to blame? Until Christian entertainment is top-notch quality, we really don’t have much to say, do we?
Final Rating: 2.5 out of 10 points
Box Office Revolution 