| Lost Souls | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Janusz Kamiński |
| Produced by | Meg Ryan Nina R. Sadowsky |
| Written by | Story: Betsy Stahl Screenplay: Pierce Gardner |
| Starring | Winona Ryder Ben Chaplin Sarah Wynter Philip Baker Hall John Hurt |
| Music by | Jan A. P. Kaczmarek |
| Editing by | Anne Goursaud Recut: Andrew Mondstein |
| Studio | Avery Pix Castle Rock Entertainment Prufrock Pictures |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | October 13, 2000 |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50 million[1] |
| Box office | $31,355,910[2] |
Lost Souls is a 2000 American horror film directed by Janusz Kamiński, and stars Winona Ryder, Ben Chaplin, Elias Koteas, and John Hurt. It is about a man who is told he will become the Antichrist.
Contents |
A small group of Roman Catholics believe that Satan intends to become man just as God did in the person of Jesus. Writings from a seemingly possessed mental patient lead them to Peter Kelson (Chaplin). The group suspect that it is his body Satan has chosen to occupy. The youngest of the group Maya Larkin (Ryder), meets Peter to investigate further and to try to convince him of embodied evil. Other signs come to him as he and Maya take a journey full of strange occurrences, self discovery and an ultimate showdown.
The film was shot in 1998 on location in Los Angeles and New York City in America. The film was initially set for release in October 1999, however, due to a flood of "End of the World" movies such as End of Days scheduled for release around the same time the decision was made to delay the film. The second date for release February 2000 was also cancelled due to conflict with the very popular Scream franchise. The final release date of October 2000, was finally decided upon, which also happened to be the same exact day as the re-release of The Exorcist.
The film opened at #3 at the North American box office making USD$7,954,766 in its opening weekend.
The film was given very mixed reviews from critics.
Elvis Mitchell in The New York Times wrote; 'There are some particularly fine visual details; it's the central story that's lacking.' 'After what is supposed to be a harrowing moment, Kelson says, I was surprised but I was never frightened. That about sums up Lost Souls.[3]
The critical review from Film4 wrote; 'Concluding with an ending reminiscent of both The Game and Jacob's Ladder (though delivered with the panache of neither), Lost Souls is not worth seeking out.'[4]