The Reaping follows a former Christian missionary (Swank) who has become a ‘miracle debunker’. As the leading expert in disproving religious phenomena, she’s sent to Louisiana to work on a case involving millions of locusts and a creepy young girl (played by Robb).
Hilary Swank Explains Her Attraction to The Reaping: “There were a lot of elements about this movie that I liked. One was that I’d never seen a movie like it. I couldn’t pinpoint anything else that reminded me of it. It’s a supernatural thriller. There’s scary elements, but it’s scary because it could have happened, like back in Biblical days. It’s dramatic; it has religious undertones. And the idea of the analogies to life for me, like things aren’t always what they seem and how I make quick judgments on things or experiences or people and always trying to remain open.
I loved how she had such a strong belief in something and she lost her faith because of something that happened to her, and how she regains her faith through the film because of things that happen that she can’t answer. I found it all really intriguing. I thought about it after I finished the script. I kept thinking about it. And the twist… There’s a twist that I didn’t see coming. I see twists coming a million miles away and I didn’t see it. I couldn’t believe I didn’t see it. I was like, ‘How did I miss that?’”
Relating to Her Character’s Crisis of Faith: Swank said, “You know, I don’t have a child and it happens to her child, so not so much to her exact experience. I react strongly to things that are happening in the world. I look at the cover of the LA Times and the NY Times nowadays and I’m devastated by what’s happening in the world. I can relate to that on a humanistic level, but certainly I’ve never endured anything like that in my own life.”
Things That Go Bump in the Night: According to Swank, the only supernatural phenomena she’s witnessed occurred while they were filming The Reaping. “My answer is that while we were actually filming the movie, something happened. We were filming this scene and the sound went out at this particularly revealing point. It didn’t just go out, it kind of like [making a fuzzy electronic sound]. And the first time we were like, ‘Okay, reload, go again.’ Went again, and at that exact moment it happened again. Five takes later it kept happening. And they said, ‘Okay, forget it, let’s just do ADR later.’ I don’t know. I mean that’s weird. It didn’t just happen at different takes in the movie, either.”
AnnaSophia Robb says that when she hears stories of unusual occurrences, she tries to gather more info rather than jump to any conclusions. “I usually just want to find out more. Why these things have happened, is it just a story or is it maybe there is some actual reason for it - or maybe it’s just one of those whacky things that happen in life.” Swank added, “I am always fascinated by what makes life work. What’s behind it all, what’s it about. And this movie has those elements to me. It asks a lot of those questions.”
Hilary Swank on Researching Her Role: “I did a lot of reading. Stephen [Hopkins, the director] gave me a lot of books and a lot of literature. I think the most interesting thing was the publication Skeptical Enquirer and meeting him. He was fascinating and so smart and really believed what he writes about and thinks. There’s a lot of different ways in life. There’s a lot of different ways to live life, there’s a lot of different ways to go about life and I think allowing people the freedom to have their own beliefs, as long as they don’t hurt anybody, I think that’s an important part of living. And I think celebrating people and our differences is really important.”
Swank says the research process didn’t convert her into a believer. “No, it did not make me a skeptical enquirer. I don’t subscribe to the magazine and read it every month, you know? It’s not I don’t believe that way. I don’t think that way, but it was definitely… I didn’t even know there was something called that and it’s interesting to be an actor and to be able to learn about different ways of life and different ways of looking at it. It’s always interesting.”
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One on One with "The Reaping" Star Hilary Swank - Play the Video
Exclusive Interview with AnnaSophia Robb - Play the Video
Director Stephen Hopkins Discusses "The Reaping" - Play the Video
