Missionary (2014) | Movie Review

Thrillers centered on religion are not a new concept by a long shot. We have seen countless films that focus on the dichotomy between a dark theme and the usually positive undertones of organized faith. Anthony DiBlasi’s ‘Missionary’ uses the same trope with a slightly different story setup, which is enough to keep its audiences interested, even if its antagonist strays a bit too far on the side of crazy to be believable. The far-fetched plot isn’t enough to keep from recommending the film, as the acting and production values feel like they surpass the film’s modest budget just enough to make it worth the ride.

Katherine (Dawn Olivieri), lives alone with her son Kesley (Connor Christie), after her philandering husband caused their separation. One day, Katherine is visited by a couple of Mormon soul-winners, one of which is the devilishly handsome Kevin Brock (Mitch Ryan). Elder Brock, despite being a devout holy man, begins a physical relationship with Katherine and falls for her hard. Much to Brock’s chagrin, Katherine does not reciprocate, choosing instead to attempt to patch things up with her husband. Kevin becomes obsessed with Katherine, refuses to take no for an answer, and thus begins his own mission to replace her husband as not only her lover, but also as a father to her son.

The story starts out with a lot of promise, but never feels 100% satisfying. There’s simply not enough reason for Kevin’s actions. While it is perfectly fine to rely on the ‘he’s just that crazy’ rationale, it is simply not done in any sort of interesting fashion. We see a glimpse into his past, but nothing that even hints to an explanation for the extent of Kevin’s actions. Still, the film is quite effective at giving a serious sense of unease, especially when the missionary was so charming and likable towards the beginning, before he took a side-trip to Crazy Town. A bit more backstory would have made the plot much more understandable from a filmgoers perspective.

The performances in Missionary were solid. Plot plausibility aside, Mitch Ryan comes across as genuinely creepy while still maintaining some air of decency. It is as if he understands that the character has sold himself on his actions being acceptable. Olivieri complements him as a troubled mother with her own needs and desires, yet is conflicted about what is best for her and her son. Kip Pardue, who has grown up since his appearance in ‘Remember the Titans’, gives a menacing performance as Katherine’s husband, who will do anything to keep his family in tact while remaining remorseful throughout.

Missionary is a movie that is worth a watch for the performances and above average production values, just do not walk into it expecting a deep storyline. For a thriller, the film would have benefited from a few more ‘shock factor’ moments to keep things exciting. The cast and director all do above-average work here, offering up a film that remains entertaining even with its short-comings. Here is to hoping those individual components get a tighter script next time around.

Scott Clark
The Hollywood Outsider