DIRECTOR: Robby Henson
PRODUCER: Ralph Winter
WRITER: Alan B. McElroy (screenplay) and Ted Dekker
STARRING: Marc Blucas, Justine Waddell, Laura Jordon, Priscilla Barnes
RELEASE DATE: January 5, 2007 (select markets)

Reviewed by Todd Burgett

 

Thr3e is a nifty little thriller that will keep viewers guessing right down to the final onion-layered twist of a finale.  Thr3e is effectively and atmospherically directed by Robby Henson (The Visitation, The Badge) and based on Ted Dekker’s (The Circle Trilogy, Showdown) best-selling Christian novel of the same name.

The story revolves around Kevin Parson (played by Marc Blucas – First Daughter, TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer), a seminary student, who receives a mysterious call demanding that he confess his sins in three minutes or be killed.  Parson narrowly escapes death and the mystery begins to unravel. Detective Jennifer Peters (played by Justine Waddell, The Fall, TV’s The Mystery of Natalie Wood) is brought on the case and has had a similar experience, with the same mysterious caller that ends in the murder of her brother.

The story twists and turns as Parson and Peters put the pieces together and try to figure out the connection of their two experiences while tracking the serial killer.  Henson has done a credible job pacing this thriller, and the creepy look and feel of the film evokes memories of the X-Files in its heyday.  Priscilla Barnes (TV’s Three’s Company) steals the show as Parson’s creepy Aunt Belinda.

Thr3e deals with the theme of man’s battle within himself, between good and evil with the soul suspended in between.  I agree with the film’s conclusion that only God can solve this problem.  However, I disagree with the notion that the soul is suspended in between the two opposing sides.   The Bible clearly teaches that within ourselves the soul is so marred by evil that it can only be redeemed through God’s intervening and transforming grace (Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 2:8-10).

Overall, Thr3e is more than just another cut-and-paste thriller.  There is enough freshness and believable acting to keep the viewer entertained to the closing credits. As an added bonus, the viewer will be left pondering some very important questions concerning the human soul’s dealings with good and evil - despite some of the theological shortcomings in the film’s handling of this topic.

Thr3e is produced by Hollywood veteran Ralph Winter (The X-Men Trilogy, Fantastic 4) who happens to be a professing Christian.  Winter is heading up the newly formed movie company FoxFaith (The Visitation, The Hangman’s Curse), a division of 20th Century Fox, which is geared to tap into the newly-noticed buying demographic known as “Evangelicals.”  The success of Passion of the Christ and the Chronicles of Narnia woke up the film industry to the fact that there is a potential market for spiritually-based themes.  I pray for Ralph Winter’s success in bringing credible spiritually-themed films to the local multiplex and movie rental store. Thr3e is a step in the right direction. – Todd Burgett

 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars