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It's initially pretty easy to dismiss Legion (2010) as just another horror film. The plot of the January 22 release follows a group of people trapped in an old diner out in the Mojave Desert just as warrior angels descend from the skies, in the form of humans, intent on bringing about the End of Days. The secret weapon amidst all the chaos? A pregnant waitress, whose unborn kid is mankind's only hope? And did we mention that there's a machine gun-toting rebel angel joining the diners in their last stand?
Yes, it all sounds kind of silly, and it may be. Here's the thing, though, or things about Legion. The trailer is aces, creepy, and entertaining, with the friendly old lady suddenly going all crazy and climbing the walls of the place like a spider, and a seemingly innocuous ice cream man stepping out of his truck...and morphing into a horrific, slack-jawed creature.
Okay, you say, the crummiest movies usually have the best trailers. Yup, we totally agree. We said that, too, having been burned by way too many trailers that loaded up on every last one of a given film's best bits.
But then, just take a look at the Legion cast. Paul Bettany, a superb, subtle actor, is playing that rebel angel, Michael. And peek around at the faces in the diner. Dennis Quaid and Charles S. Dutton play its owners, while Kate Walsh and the underrated Jon Tenney are among the patrons. Not a slouch in the bunch. And, no longer a child actor best known for Sling Blade (1996), Lucas Black co-stars as the son of Quaid's character. And the pivotal role of the pregnant waitress has been filled by the red-hot Adrianne Palicki, a gorgeous young actress and fanboy fave best known for her roles as Tyra on Friday Night Lights (TV) and Jessica on Supernatural (TV). Not enough to grab you? Well, Tyrese Gibson is in there, too. And guess who pops up briefly as the Ice Cream Man? None other than Doug Jones, who's beloved in sci-fi/fantasy/horror circles for his performances as the Silver Surfer in Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and as both El Fauno and the Pale Man in the breathtaking Pan's Labyrinth (2007).
Further adding to the film's promise? It's rated R. That's a good thing, as PG-13 apocalyptic tales rarely deliver the goods as effectively as they should. Not to sound too sick here, but if you're going to shoot someone, show blood. If you're depicting Hell on earth, the images of chaos should be graphic enough to drive home the point. Then there's the movie's theme. God is out to cleanse the earth and he's not messing around. Provocative? Yup. Controversial? No doubt. And, finally, we're excited about seeing what writer-director-producer Scott Stewart does with Legion. The film marks his directing debut after having worked at ILM and founded the visual effects company The Orphanage, which helped bring to vivid life such movies as Sin City (2005), Iron Man (2008), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and Hellboy. So, bottom line, Legion could be just another horror film, but we doubt it. If all the pieces fall into place -- and the pieces are there -- it really could be something special, and really scary.
