Today’s quick review: Legion. As the Apocalypse draws near, the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) disobeys God and descends to Earth to give humanity one last chance. Traveling to a truckstop in the Mojave Desert, he helps a motley group of survivors protect Charlie (Adrianne Palicki), a pregnant waitress whose unborn child holds the key to humanity’s survival, from the archangel Gabriel (Kevin Durand) and a legion of possessed humans.
Legion is an action horror movie about a lone angel trying to fend off the end of the world. The movie uses a dark twist on Christian theology as fuel, casting angels in the role of the monsters and a band of strangers led by Michael as the reluctant heroes. Legion offers a mixture of gun-toting action and effects-driven horror. At its best, the movie is a desperate fight for survival against a fearsome supernatural threat.
However, Legion has trouble following through on any of its ideas. It has a few superficial scares, but none of them leave a lasting impact. Each threat the survivors face feels isolated from the others, a series of escalating supernatural encounters that have very little to do with each other. The role of Charlie’s baby is left frustratingly vague, while the lack of story development keeps the movie from exploring any of its characters’ arcs.
Overall, Legion will appeal to fans of schlocky horror movies and no one else. Modest scares, a smattering of action, and a serviceable plot make it a fine popcorn watch for viewers with low expectations. But anyone looking for masterful horror, thrilling action, or a fulfilling story should look elsewhere. For action horror with more attitude, try Constantine or Hellboy. For a dark thriller about an isolated group of strangers, try Identity.
5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for passable action and a thin but functional story.