Review: Day of Reckoning (2016)

[David N. Butterworth]

DAY OF RECKONING (2016)
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2016 David N. Butterworth

**1/2 (out of ****)

The jolly if undernourished apocalyptic actioner "Day of Reckoning"
(presented by the SyFy Channel) takes as its inspiration that catchy quote
from Isaiah 2:12, "For the lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
against everyone who is proud and lofty, and against everyone who is lifted
up, that he may be abased."
That prophetic passage bodes particularly poorly for the likes of
proud Tyler (Jay Jay "I heard you the first time" Warren), his lofty mom
Laura (Heather McComb), and his estranged, lifted-up dad David (Jackson
Hurst), all of whom wind up facing some kind of significant abasement as
the good book foretold.
Fifteen years ago some military installation somewhere drilled some
place it shouldn't have and unleashed a legion of winged demons from the
earth's bowels. These creatures then feasted on feckless humans for 24
hours straight.
That's right: an entire Day. Of Reckoning.
A lunar eclipse now heralds a repeat performance of the nasty event,
yet mankind is somehow as ill-prepared second time around despite having 1)
formed a new Department of Homeland Security (the cleverly titled DHS); 2)
circled the globe with military facilities at all deep-core fissures known
as "gates"; and 3) learned that these terrestrial, subterranean creatures
can be killed with either salt or cold (no explanation given).
Running and hiding, then running some more, still appears to be man's
best defense.
"Day of Reckoning" is an energetic, low-budget creature feature
featuring minor stars easily confused for slightly bigger ones--the Paul
Rudd type (a considerably less amusing Hurst), the Rutger Hauer type
(Raymond J. Barry as a bunkered uncle), the Saoirse Ronan type (Hana Hayes
plays Tyler's girlfriend, Maddy). The creature effects, despite the film's
five-and-dime store budget, offer a creative array of harpies, angry crows,
horned quadrupeds, skeletal families, plus one massive, uncouth centipede.
A little attention to detail in the close-up work would have worked wonders.
They could have paid closer attention to screenwriter Greg Gieras'
first draft also. "It's *too* quiet." Really? And during Laura's somber
explanation of the first Day of Reckoning (during which, apparently, hubby
David came up short in the hero department, hence the friction), we learn
"We're not sure where these things come from. Nobody knows why they're
here or what they want. We call them demons but that's just one of many
theories." Joel Novoa directs.

--
David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews
butterwo...@gmail.com