Tribulation

As the third installment in the “Apocalypse” Christian movie series, and the sequel to “Revelation,” “Tribulation” (from Cloud Ten Pictures) shows a clear evolution in the departments of acting, budget, special effects, and more. Starring Gary Busey, Howie Mandel, and Margot Kidder this film helps to prove that Christian films can indeed feature well-known Hollywood actors and actresses. And the difference shows the experience that seasoned actors bring to the big screen.

In “Tribulation”, Tom Canboro (Gary Busey) is a police detective who witnesses some bizarre incidents that appear to be supernatural in nature. While not yet a believer in Jesus Christ, Tom completes a journey that he began as a child when his older sister (Margot Kidder) taught him and his brother about God and His creation. After an automobile wreck puts Tom into a long coma, he wakes up in a strange new world where he finds his sister and millions of others on Earth vanished, and those left behind having no recollection of any “haters” that had previously been on the Earth. The world is captivated by Franco Macalousso (Nick Mancuso), a miracle-working peacemaker on the outside, Satan himself on the inside. His goal is to use a virtual-reality headset that each Earth citizen must wear that will force each person to either claim allegiance to him and obtain the desires of his heart, or reject the Antichrist and face immediate death. Tom and a handful of others remain neutral on Earth—those who haven’t yet donned the headset and made allegiance to the Antichrist.

As Tom tries to piece together the events of the last many months, he must also choose what to believe and ultimately who to place his trust in for eternity before he must face Macalousso and decide his fate.

Of an interesting side-note, Gary Busey became a Christian in 1995 after a drug overdose. He was happy to use his talents in this salvation-proclaiming end-times account of what the future may hold.

Other characters were also strong in talent and proved quite believable. Leigh Lewis is back as former World News Network anchor woman Helen Hannah whose main role in “Tribulation” is hacking into the world communications satellite infrastructure to deliver biblical messages of truth to those brainwashed by the Antichrist.

Appropriate for junior high youth through adult, “Tribulation” is a good pick for Christians to use for both entertainment as well as evangelism. Brush up on end-times prophecies by reading the book of Revelation in the New Testament, and Daniel in the Old to field questions that will be raised.

Prequels: Apocalypse (1997), Revelation (1999). Sequel: Judgment (2001).