A Thief in the Night

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A Thief in the Night is a 1972 Christian end times film directed by Russell S. Doughten. It is the first, and best known film in Doughten's four-part series on the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ. The films together are often referred to collectively as the "Thief" or "Rapture" series.

Followed by:

A Distant Thunder (1977)
Image of the Beast (1981)
The Prodigal Planet (1983)
"The Battle of Armageddon" (planned)

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The film opens at a performance by the Christ-oriented musical group Fish Market Five, specifically their song "You've Been Left Behind", which seems to inspire several attendees to convert.

Afterward the audience is introduced to a group of friends, including the main protagonist (or antagonist depending on the viewer's perspective), Patty Jo Meyers (Patty Dunning). The friends are followed during an outing to a reptile exhibit, which ends with one character being bitten by a highly venomous snake, eventually losing his life.

Shortly thereafter, The Rapture occurs, as the audience is shown various situations of people suddenly being absent (including an infamous shot of an electric razor left running on a bathroom sink, as well as an un-manned lawnmower).

The plot follows Patty Jo, who has been left behind after the Rapture. Her husband was raptured, but she is left to survive against the new world order UNITE (an allusion to the United Nations). As the world copes with the unexplained phenomenon, martial law is declared. The mark of the beast is implemented (under the veil of a new citizen i.d. system), but Patty does not take it, and therefore cannot purchase goods or obtain services. Individuals refusing to accept the mark are apprehended and put to death by way of guillotine. The film follows Patty Jo during her attempts to elude capture. She meets up with her friends Jerry and Diane, only to discover they have taken the mark. The film ends with a showdown on a bridge, with UNITE officers cornering Patty Jo.

[edit] Unintentional Humor

The film is somewhat of a legend among younger people, predominantly those who have attended a Christian school, as it is common for the film to be shown in religious classes. Its notoriety stems from its unintentional humor, due to poor acting, ludicrous plot points, and the the film's secularly-naïve depiction of the early-70's era.