There are movies that aim to terrify you, movies that aim to inspire you, and then there are movies like The Visitation(2006), which attempt both and end up as something much stranger: a supernatural horror-thriller that feels like it was cooked up during a late-night Bible study where someone spiked the communion wine. Based on Frank Peretti’s novel, directed by Robby Henson, and starring Martin Donovan, Kelly Lynch, Priscilla Barnes, and Edward Furlong in one of cinema’s least messianic wigs, The Visitation isn’t the movie you were looking for—but it’s the one you’ll remember when you wake up at 3 a.m. wondering, Did Edward Furlong just play Hot Topic Jesus?
And here’s the kicker: it works. Not in the way the filmmakers intended, of course. This is not a movie that will restore your faith in God or your faith in horror cinema. But it’s entertaining in that cracked, campy way that happens when a film earnestly swings for the heavens and ends up hitting the ceiling fan.
The Plot: Jesus Christ, Superstar, But Make It Spokane
Our hero is Travis Jordan (Martin Donovan), a former minister who has lost his faith after the unsolved murder of his wife. Donovan plays Travis like a man permanently stuck in a midlife crisis, sipping black coffee and glaring at his dog as if contemplating the futility of all things. But then—miracles start popping up around Antioch, Washington.
Dogs come back from the dead. Paraplegics take a victory lap. Tumors vanish. Small-town folks suddenly start believing their prayers are being answered by a mysterious stranger. And who’s at the center of it all? Brandon Nichols (Edward Furlong), a scruffy drifter who looks less like the Son of God and more like the roadie who didn’t make it to the Nirvana reunion tour. He shows up, does some healing, quotes scripture with the enthusiasm of a hungover youth pastor, and soon the town is convinced he’s the Messiah 2.0.
But of course, because this is a supernatural thriller, Travis suspects something’s rotten in Antioch. He and his pal Morgan (Kelly Lynch) start digging and discover—surprise!—Brandon is not the second coming, but more like the Antichrist’s PR intern. Evil is afoot, the Tall Men in black trench coats are lurking around, and it’s up to our faithless minister to put his doubts aside and save the town.
Edward Furlong as Brandon: From John Connor to Jesus Cosplayer
Let’s pause here for what the movie is really remembered for: Edward Furlong’s casting. Imagine John Connor from Terminator 2, now aged into the kind of guy who might ask if you want to see his band play at the local bar, suddenly deciding to cosplay as the Messiah. That’s Brandon Nichols.
Furlong brings an oddly charming laziness to the role. He doesn’t radiate divine charisma so much as he radiates, “I just woke up on your couch, can I crash one more night?” Which, in a way, makes him perfect. Because what’s scarier than a small-town cult following a man who clearly doesn’t own a comb?
There are moments when he really tries—eyes blazing, arms outstretched like he’s blessing a Hot Topic. And that’s when the movie transcends from supernatural thriller to dark comedy gold. You can’t tell if you’re supposed to kneel or offer him a cigarette.
Miracles, Cults, and the Joy of Small-Town Horror
The fun of The Visitation is how absurdly serious it takes itself. The miracles are filmed with dramatic swooshes of music, as if the filmmakers believed they were documenting the next Book of Acts. But when you watch someone’s Labrador pop out of a grave alive and wagging its tail like it just came back from doggy daycare, it’s hard not to laugh.
The townsfolk turn into a cult faster than you can say “altar call.” One minute they’re skeptical, the next they’re chanting Brandon’s name like he’s handing out free Wi-Fi. And that’s where the dark humor creeps in—because the film unintentionally nails the feverish gullibility of small-town America. The only thing missing was Brandon selling essential oils.
The Performances: A Cocktail of Camp and Commitment
Martin Donovan, as Travis, is all gravel-voiced gravitas. He plays it straight, perhaps too straight, like he’s in a different film entirely. Kelly Lynch, as Morgan, gives off “stern guidance counselor” energy, grounding the nonsense with genuine worry.
But let’s be real: the women of The Visitation deserve credit for not bursting out laughing in scenes where they’re supposed to swoon over Edward Furlong’s bargain-bin Jesus act. Priscilla Barnes shows up as the sheriff’s wife, giving us the sort of performance that suggests she knew exactly how ridiculous this was, but hey, a paycheck’s a paycheck.
And then there are the Tall Men—three figures in black coats who lurk ominously around like they’re waiting for the goth night bus. They never do much beyond glower, but they’re perfect background flavor. Every supernatural cult needs its roadies.
Horror or Hallmark? Why Not Both
Here’s the thing: The Visitation isn’t scary. Not once. It’s about as frightening as a Wednesday night church play, only with more fog machines. But that’s what makes it enjoyable. It’s a horror film without horror, a thriller without thrills, yet somehow it’s weirdly watchable.
The film toes the line between faith-based message movie and supernatural drama, which means it tries to preach while also delivering evil-possessed townsfolk. The result feels like a Hallmark Channel movie that wandered onto the set of The X-Files. You half expect Randy Travis (who does appear in the cast, inexplicably) to burst into a country ballad about Jesus fighting demons.
Why It’s Weirdly Worth Watching
For all its flaws—and there are many—The Visitation is oddly entertaining. Maybe it’s the sincerity with which it delivers nonsense. Maybe it’s the joy of watching Edward Furlong attempt to play Jesus while looking like he just came from a late-night 7-Eleven run. Maybe it’s the unintentional comedy of “miracles” that look like rejected Touched by an Angelscripts.
This is not high cinema. This is not horror excellence. But it is a fascinating curiosity, the kind of film you throw on at 2 a.m. with friends and a six-pack, pausing every five minutes to ask, Did that dog just come back from the dead? Did Edward Furlong just resurrect my Wi-Fi?
Final Verdict: Amen and LOL
The Visitation is proof that sometimes the worst movies make the best experiences. It’s hokey, it’s clumsy, it’s as subtle as a church bell ringing at midnight. But it’s also fun, often in spite of itself.
Dark humor thrives on the absurd, and this film is nothing if not absurd. A fallen minister, a town duped by miracles, and Edward Furlong as the least convincing Jesus stand-in in cinematic history—it’s a recipe for unintentional comedy gold.
So yes, The Visitation might not scare you, but it’ll entertain you. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll walk away with a newfound respect for the power of cinema to make even a dog resurrection feel like a punchline.
Final Word: Watch it. Not for the message, not for the scares, but for the rare chance to see a film that’s both preachy and ridiculous, a horror flick where the only thing haunting you is Edward Furlong’s wig.
