Taglines: The End of the World has only just begun.
Left Behind follows Rayford Steele (Nicolas Cage) who is piloting a commercial airliner just hours after the Rapture when millions of people around the globe simply vanish. Thirty thousand feet over the Atlantic, Rayford is faced with a damaged plane, terrified passengers, and a desperate desire to get back to his family. On the ground, his daughter, Chloe Steele (Cassi Thomson) is among those left behind, forced to navigate a world of madness as she searches for her lost mother and brother.
Left Behind is an American apocalyptic thriller film directed by Vic Armstrong and written by Paul LaLonde and John Patus. The film is based on the novel of the same name written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, and is a reboot of Left Behind: The Movie. The film was released on October 3, 2014 and was panned by critics.
About the Story
University of Central Arkansas student Chloe Steele has flown in from college to surprise her father, pilot Rayford Steele, for his birthday party. Her mother Irene Steele quickly calls to inform her, however, that her father cannot make it. While at the airport waiting for him, Chloe meets up with investigative reporter Cameron “Buck” Williams.
Rayford shows up on his way to a flight and apologizes to Chloe for missing her birthday party, insisting he was called in to pilot a flight to London at the last minute. He also assures Chloe things are fine between himself and his wife, who recently had become an active believing Christian, much to Chloe’s disgust.
Chloe suspects things are not fine between her father and mother – she had seen him flirting with flight attendant Hattie Durham and notices he has removed his wedding ring. Her suspicions soon are confirmed when an airport worker hands Chloe two hard-to-get theater tickets in London that Rayford had ordered, indicating his trip to London and possible extramarital fling was planned all along.
Chloe brushes off another one of her mother’s preachings about Christianity and takes her brother to the mall. While there, her brother suddenly vanishes, leaving only his clothes behind. Chloe is shocked and notices this same thing has happened to numerous others at the mall. Mayhem breaks loose as shoppers begin looting the stores. A driver-less car plows through the mall windows, and a small plane without a pilot crashes in the mall parking lot. Chloe sees television reports of children and some adults disappearing, as worldwide panic sets in.
On Rayford’s flight, the same strange event has occurred – several people, including his co-pilot Chris Smith, Kimmy, one of the flight attendants, and all the children on board, have simply disappeared, leaving their clothing and personal effects behind. The remaining passengers panic and demand answers. Rayford does his best to reassure the passengers he will pass on information once he has any. Rayford has difficulty getting radio or satellite phone contact with anyone on the ground, until he is finally informed that people have disappeared everywhere and the world is in uproar. Soon a pilot-less jet approaches directly into Rayford’s flight path. He narrowly avoids a midair collision but the jet damages Rayford’s fuel line. He decides his only option is to return to New York and hope his fuel holds out.
On the ground, Chloe hears her father’s Mayday call on her cell phone and assumes his plane has crashed. She later finds her mother’s jewelry left behind in the shower, as she has also disappeared. Chloe makes her way to New Hope Church to discover the family pastor Bruce Barnes who explains God has taken his believers to heaven, and the rest have to face the end of days. The pastor explains he was not taken because he didn’t really believe what he had preached. Rayford comes to the same conclusion by examining his copilot and stewardess’ personal effects. He tells Hattie the truth about his wife. She is initially upset as she didn’t know he was married, but Rayford convinces her to be brave and to help calm the passengers down until they can safely land.
Left Behind
Directed by: Vic Armstrong
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Cassi Thomson, Chad Michael Murray, Lea Thompson, Nicky Whelan, Martin Klebba, Jordin Sparks, Stephanie Honoré, Laura Cayouette, Ashton Leigh
Screenplay by: Paul LaLonde, John Patus
Production Design by: Stephen Altman
Cinematography by: Jack N. Green
Film Editing by: Michael J. Duthie
Set Decoration by: Barbara Haberecht
Art Direction by: Jeremy Woolsey
Music by: Jack Lenz
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some thematic elements, violence/peril and brief drug content.
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release Date: October 3, 2014
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