Vanished—Left Behind: Next Generation

Teenager Gabby (Amber Montana) is talking with her mom when disaster strikes—people vanish right from where they stand, cars crash, mothers scream for their babies. Gabby is left alone, wondering what happened, gripped by fear. After seeing her mother’s empty clothes lying on the ground, she runs to find her 11 year old sister, instead finding her friend Josh (Mason Day). They eventually find Claire and meet Flynn, who joins them as they travel to find Gabby’s dad, safety and hopefully, answers as to what happened. Luke 17:34-35 says “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together, one will be taken and the other left.” This warning was given in Scripture, but to the non believer, there will only be confusion.

Along the way they meet Damon (Tom Everett Scott), a doomsday prepper living off the grid. He grows his own crops, raises chickens, has solar power and is ready to welcome anyone in, as long as they help pull their own weight. Something about this guy doesn’t sit right with the kids, and they come to find out that this place of sanctuary, isn’t so safe. Can they get free? Will they find answers as to what happened and will they find Gabby’s dad?

I had been following the release of this movie for some time, and the release date had been pushed back, then it became a one night only event in limited theaters. I read the Left Behind series, I saw the Kirk Cameron version of the movies years ago, I saw the newer one with Nicolas Cage, and I have read some of the Left Behind kids series books with my own children. I was excited for this movie to come and for my kids to see a movie they could relate to. Even though it was a one night, limited release showing, I gathered my kids, and we made the trek to the closest theater showing it. We all had high hopes. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t meet my expectations. It is a good teen movie… It just isn’t a good Rapture movie. If I am going to see a Christian movie, I expect it to have a bit of substance to it spiritually.

In this film, the kids do get to a church, but for such a brief time that the explanation given for the disappearances is that the believers left. Very little information or explanation is given throughout the film. There is no discussion of Jesus, who He is, what He did for us and why He came back. I know the desire to appeal to a teen/young adult audience was there, and the storyline is fast paced and intense, but the whole story of Damon left one wondering what this had to do with Christ or the Rapture. That’s why I say it wasn’t a good Rapture film. They also employs a romantic interest between Gabby and Josh and Flynn, with Gabby unsure where her affections truly lay.

The violence is intense, showing a dead police officer on the ground, a man gets shot (with blood on his shirt), a character with a nasty gash on her leg requiring stitches, locking people up against their will, guns and the threat of death. Heed the PG-13 warning. I did not, and my daughter was crying from both the intensity and the fear of not seeing her friends in Heaven. It is a heavy movie for young ones.

There is no bad language or sexuality. The violence is higher than I expected, and the hope of Jesus is weak in the film. I suspect they left it open so they could continue the storyline with another film, which I hope they do. But I also hope they delve heavier into Scripture and Jesus and His saving grace.

According to social media, many who did see this film enjoyed it, so I encourage others to see it when it comes out on DVD—teens and adults may enjoy it if you watch it not expecting much spiritually, but want a film that merely touches on Christianity and is free of foul language and full of non-stop action. Let us, however, heed the warning given to us in Scripture and…

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this, if the owner of the house had known what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you must also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” (Matthew 24:42-44)

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Young people