THE LAST SIN EATER

THE LAST SIN EATER - 2007

RATED - PG-13 (For thematic elements and some intense sequences of violence). Not suited for younger children.

RATINGS - 68 Amazon (4.5/5), 137,781 Netflix (3.4/5), NY TIMES (4/5), 850 IMDB (5.6/10).

STARRING - Michael Landon, Jr., Director, Louise Fletcher, Henry Thomas.

THEMES - Justice, spirituality, relationships, redemption.

STORY - Based on the actual practice of the Welsh who settled in the Appalachian Mountains during the 18th & 19th centuries and the novel of the same name by Francine Rivers. The sin eater was someone in the community, picked by God through lottery, who was set apart to live alone, and only showed up at the burial site to perform a ritual of taking the dead person's sins upon himself, making the person acceptable to God in the afterlife. No one ever saw the Sin Eater. The story centers around young Cadi Forbes, whose sister died recently in an accident, and the guilt she feels for her death. She can't stand living with the guilt and can't wait until death to have her sins removed , so she seeks this elusive and strange person called the Sin Eater. In doing so, she confronts the demons and dark secrets that have haunted the community for decades. Who is this mysterious Sin Eater, where does he live and can he remove the sins of the living as well as the dead? While the film has a clear Christian message, it is intended for all audiences and is more than just an excuse to make a 'video sermon'. The story is well done, the scenery is gorgeous and the acting is more than adequate, all done on a relatively small budget. Reading the book is a plus in understanding as it would be helpful to have a little better knowledge of the role of the Sin Eater and the cause of Cadi's guilt a little earlier in the film. Produced as part of the FoxFaith Series. It will be over the head of and a little too violent for most children under 13.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, NY TIMES REVIEW