Synopsis

Former missionary Katherine Winter has dedicated her life to exposing supposed miracles as frauds. When a Louisiana town is plagued by events resembling the biblical plagues of Egypt, she is asked to investigate. Her methodical search for natural explanations becomes increasingly difficult as the phenomena intensify, forcing her to confront long-buried doubts about faith, science, and the possibility of genuine supernatural forces.

Factoids & Trivia

• Hilary Swank helped persuade the producers to move the story's setting from New England to Louisiana, where much of the film was shot around Baton Rouge and St. Francisville.

• Several scenes were filmed inside an abandoned Walmart store. Ellerslie Plantation near St. Francisville was also used as a location.

• Production was interrupted for approximately one week when Hurricane Katrina struck the region in August 2005.

• Paranormal investigator Joe Nickell served as a consultant. The skeptical investigative approach used by the film's protagonist was loosely inspired by his work examining claims of supernatural phenomena.

• Philip Glass originally composed and recorded a score for the film, but it was ultimately replaced by a new score from John Frizzell during post-production.

• The release date shifted several times before Warner Bros. opened the film in the United States on April 5, 2007, the day before Good Friday.