The Last Sin Eater 2007

Appalachia 1850. A generation ago a group of Welshmen came across the ocean to build a new existence and with them they brought their own traditions and rituals. One of them is the sin eater a mysterious person forced to live in the woods and mountains only to come out when somebody dies. He then pawns his own soul to take away the sins of the deceased. 10 year old Cadi Forbes meets the sin eater for the first time at the funeral of her grandmother and is immediately intrigued. Cadi is torn by guilt over the death of her little sister Elen and wants the sin eater to redeem her. With the help of Fagen son of the ruthless village leader Brogen and the imaginary Lilybet she starts a search to find him but by doing so Cadi slowly but surely unravels dark and terrible secrets.

Review

According to ancient Celtic tradition a "sin eater" is a person chosen by lottery to take the transgressions of others onto his soul so that the newly deceased can pass over to the greatbeyond free of the stain of iniquity."The Last Sin Eater" the latest offering from FoxFaith Films (the branch of Twentieth Century Fox Studios that specializes in Christianfriendly moviemaking) is a wellmeaning but leaden and strangely eclectic work sort of "The Village" meets "The Old Time Gospel Hour" meets "Little House on the Prairie" (no surprise in this last one since the movie was directed and cowritten by Michael Landon Jr.). Cali Forbes is a sweetnatured young girl growing up in early 19th Century Appalachia who believes that a mysterious hooded hermit the local "sineater" will be able to take away the guilt she feels over "causing" the death of her little sister in a river accident. She spends most of the movie seeking him out much to the consternation of her parents and the myriad "colorful" folk who inhabit their little cove. However it isn't until Cali encounters a wandering preacher (played by E.T.'s nowgrownup buddy Henry Thomas) that she learns who the "true" sineater really is (though one wonders how anyone in this particular time and place can be as woefully ignorant about the gospel as the people here seem to be).Although the first half of the movie achieves a certain portentous creepiness in its tone and atmosphere once the evangelist shows up the movie devolves into an overwrought melodrama marked by stilted dialogue holierthanthou speechifying and heavyhanded sentimentality. The acting even on the part of Thomas and Louise Fletcher is generally amateurish and wooden although young Liana Liberato as Cali has a natural dignity and poise that work well on screen. And oh yes the scenery is eyepopping and gorgeous.Based on the novel by Francine Rivers "The Last Sin Eater" clearly has its heart in the right place but good intentions alone can't make it a satisfying movie.