The Making of The Reaping:

Behind the Scenes of a Supernatural Thriller

If you were a movie mogul filming a supernatural thriller, would you rather have Hilary Swank play a Joe Nickell type, or Joe Nickell play himself? Okay, you’re right: Hollywood chose the former—sort of. But I was something more than a bit player, anyway, in what proved to be a cast of millions—of locusts that is. Perhaps I should explain.

Long before Warner Bros.’ The Reaping (April 5, 2007 release) was a gleam in Hilary Swank’s eye, I received the first of a few phone calls from Hollywood moviemaker James Cox. He was working on a script about a thriller, set (if I recall correctly) in New England and based on a recurrence of the biblical plagues (water turning to blood, locusts swarming, etc.). I learned it was to feature a “debunker” of religious miracles—someone supposedly like me. I labored mightily, if unsuccessfully, to convey the idea that, in my career of thirty-plus years, I had actually investigated paranormal claims, subsequently debunking them, to be sure, but not setting out with any more of an agenda than to find the truth. I explained that one should avoid a mystery-mongering approach on the one hand and a dismissive one on the other; instead, paranormal (including supernatural) claims should be carefully examined to uncover the truth. If that is done, I am confident, any needed debunking will take care of itself.

I learned from Cox that, by the end of the movie, the miracles investigator would be led by the evidence to regain his or her faith. Exasperated, I said that asking me to assist with such a drama was rather like suggesting I stick my foot out and shoot a bullet through it. I have since adopted a more resigned attitude.

Anyway, time passed and I almost forgot about our discussions, until CFI executive director Barry Karr told me in July 2005 of an exchange of e-mails he was having with Kate Garwood, the associate producer of a forthcoming movie called The Reaping. I could see it was the same one I had earlier been consulted about, although we learned others than Cox wrote the final script.

To Read More of This Article Visit: http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/reaping.html

Joe Nickell, Ph.D. (University of Kentucky, 1987), is Senior Research Fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) (now the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry - CSI) an international scientific organization - and investigative columnist for Skeptical Inquirer magazine.

A former professional stage magician (he was Resident Magician at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame for three years) and private investigator for a world-famous detective agency, Dr. Nickell taught technical writing for several years at the University of Kentucky before taking the full-time position with CSI at its offices at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York.

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CSI Online: The Making of "The Reaping"

The Making of The Reaping:

Behind the Scenes of a Supernatural Thriller