"The Offering" is unique, and for that alone deserves a nod. In a time when Hollywood has run so short of ideas that remakes of remakes are the order of the day, it's refreshing to see atomic-budget indies with innovation and little mainstream appeal occasionally emerging.
The story of a drug-addled teen(ahem)having a spiritual awakening through visitations by a black Jesus is told well, and the amateur cast demonstrates that a big name is not at all necessary to turn an impressive performance. Although this has a distinct "Jack Chick" comics quality about it, it strays wisely from excessive preachiness and focuses mostly on the lives of its primary characters. A bittersweet affair, and a thoughtful one. Too, it's nice to see a different/more likely depiction of Christ for a change, as opposed to the customary Nordic blond Christ which somehow became the representation chiefly accepted as "correct".
A forgivably flawed and interesting film...6/10
The story of a drug-addled teen(ahem)having a spiritual awakening through visitations by a black Jesus is told well, and the amateur cast demonstrates that a big name is not at all necessary to turn an impressive performance. Although this has a distinct "Jack Chick" comics quality about it, it strays wisely from excessive preachiness and focuses mostly on the lives of its primary characters. A bittersweet affair, and a thoughtful one. Too, it's nice to see a different/more likely depiction of Christ for a change, as opposed to the customary Nordic blond Christ which somehow became the representation chiefly accepted as "correct".
A forgivably flawed and interesting film...6/10
