THE LIST bored me and then it beat me over the head with it's power of prayer message. I'm all for a fair and balanced film with faith and religious elements, but I hate when someone tries to beat it into you like you have no choice. It's like Malcolm McDowell saw another bad guy role and the chance to film in the South as an excuse for a paycheck.

THE LIST starts with lawyer Renny Jacobson (Chuck Carrington who is like a poor man's Ben Browder) attending his father's funeral. His father only leaves a list of names and a key to a safety deposit box. In the box is a coin and an old audio reel tape. He discovers his father was part of The List where all of his Dad's funds are tied up in this secret blood oath organization started in the South during the American Civil War in 1863. He falls for another descendant of the list, Jo (Hilarie Burton). She is taken out of The List because she isn't the son of the father since the power of the list passes from Father to Son. Renny just wants the money and his only obstacle is The List's leader (Malcolm McDowell). He soon finds the blood oath holds evil powers that can kill other people on The List.

THE LIST is a boring and lazily written thriller about power and faith. It moves at a snail's pace and it is like the story holds no life. First I wanted to turn off the film because I was bored. Then I wanted to turn it off due to it's not too-subtle power of prayer message. I liked other titles in the fox Faith range like THE END OF THE SPEAR and THE FINAL INQUIRY because they didn't beat you over the head with faith and religion (plus each one had a more exciting story than THE LIST).

SPECIAL FEATURES:
THE POWER OF PRAYER is thankfully a very short EPK featurette that has interviews with author Robert Whitlow and the cast. The 11 deleted scene were mercifully cut from an already too boring film. Producer/Writer/Director Gray Wheeler and Actress Hilarie Burton has recorded an audio commentary for the film which I didn't listen to that much since I already hated this film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: THE LIST is a lazy thriller with a faith of prayer message that isn't subtle. Unless you're a fan of author Robert Whitlow or a strong Christian, you won't like this film. I even find it hard for even a Christian to like this film since it isn't a very good film at all.

this DVD Review is (c)6-3-2008 David Blackwell and caanot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com