Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist is the extremely anticipated sequal to the 2014 Left Behind movie and is losely based on the Left Behind series of books. But does it live up to the hype?
The film is set after the rapture and follows Rayford Steele (now played by Kevin Sorbo in this film, he also directed this film too) who is now taking the warnings his wife gave him seriously about the rapture and in his stuggles goes to the Church his wife attended, discovering that the pastor of the Church has been left behind too. Together they realise that the rapture has taken place and Rayford sets out studying the Bible and trying to convice his daughter of what has happened. At the same time we see Buck Williams reporting on the events and trying to discover and uncover motives behind the recent news at the UN.
First off a disclaimer, I am a big fan of the Left Behind series of books and this review is my opinion and I appricate that many people will have a very different view of this film.
This is the fifth Left Behind movie, the first three stared Kirk Cameron as Buck Williams and though low budget, the story followed the series of books quite well and Kirk was a convincing Buck Williams. In 2014 we had the Left Behind reboot staring Nicolas Cage as Rayford Steele, that film was dissapointing. Now we have a sequal to the 2014 film with a modernised storyline and Kevin Sorbo staring as Rayford. You don’t need to see the 2014 film, this film seems like another reboot.
Kevin Sorbo does is fantastic in his role of Rayford Steele and is quite convincing as the character as is Sarah Fisher as Chloe Steele. I am sorry though that Greg Parrow does not make a convincing Buck Williams for me.
The film however did dissapoint, it doesn’t really follow the storyline in the books, I would say it is based on the end of book one, so don’t get confused thinking this is set on book three. The film is very limited by budget and stays away from lots of special effects and CGI, and often feels dated. The updated storyline doesn’t always make sense. In terms of the modernised story, the Covid pandemic has been intentionally shoehorned in, and Eden pay doesn’t really make any sense as to why everyone is signing a peace deal, at least in the book the Eden formula was solving a problem. Also some of the technical speak and lines are not correct. In all honestly the film is let down by the script. If the Left Behind name wasn’t attached to this movie, you’d think it was a completely different rapture film and actually if that was the case, I probably would have rated this film higher. Any Left Behind film has to live up to the brillience of the books.
That said, Kevin Sorbo has directed this film well, alongside his acting as Rayford, he has really carried the film along and it is one of his scenes while watching Pastor Billings that really stands out and is the highlight of this film. If that scene brings even one person to Christ than the whole film has been worth it.
Overall and after all I have said, fans of Left Behind may have differing opinions of the film, but I think one thing we can all agree on is, Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist is a good film to introduce people to the end times, the rapture and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.