box office performance/marketi ng
Despite opening in 175 theatres across the nation, the film does not show up in Exhibitor Relations' list of box office grosses for the weekend. Is New World choosing not to report grosses? That would be highly unusual and more than a little unprofessional.
Which would describe a lot about how this film was produced and marketed. Seriously, I respect what they're trying to do with this, and it would be fantastic for there to be a powerful teen film that addressed Christian themes. However, there's too much crammed into this film, and too much of it is stereotypical. Mr. Sims, if you read this, you have an abundance of ideas and obviously a fair amount of strength of will to get the film completed and distributed. But you need stronger editing with your script development. Your characters must be multidimensional, even when they're archetypes. Even your villian, he should be a vulnerable and weak person who has fallen for the devil's seductions, not the devil itself as you portray him in this picture. And whatever elaborate and roundabout ways you have of getting there, faith MUST have a larger role in the plot resolution, while simultaneously it can be presented more subtly. You can have a film that works as a provocative and disturbing thriller with complex, evolving characters that's still being spiritually uplifting and committed to Christ's message. It all starts with the script.