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MAR2012.070

(1997), NR [Lite 13-NR*] (37.4min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
September 7, 2012
September 8, 2012
66
0.96
-100

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(1997), NR [Lite 13-NR*] ... Ad unum virum visio a Diabolu


Cast/Crew Details in Part Courtesy of the Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Creative Youth Resources Productions, IMS Productions
Distribution (US): ChristianCineman.com
Director(s): Stephen Bowlby, Stephen Vidano, Brooke C. Johnson
Producer(s): John Duke, Bill Muir, Ric Sieben, Susie Scott
Screenplay by: Stephen Bowlby, Jim Hancock, Bill Muir, Stephen Vidano
Story: Bill Muir
Cinematography/Camera: Max Paul Franklin
Film Editing: Michael J. Evans
Casting: Kathleen Kennec
Production Design: Tom Sanny
Art Direction: Jon Ann Bender
Viewed on ChristianCinema.com DVD


Though this film is not rated, because of the teen drinking, drunkenness and possession of illegal drugs and the extensive presence of evil this film earned a CAP final score of 66, placing it in the upper end of the scoring range earned by PG-13 films in the comparative baseline database (55 to 67 out of 100), thus making it equivalent to a lite PG-13.

Note that each of the instances of assault on morality and wholesome ethics is not as invasively graphic as might be capable of the well-funded Hollywood filmmakers. That funding limitations kept the boldness of cinematography such as the images of demons to less than a Hollywood concoction, the imagery is there nonetheless.

In 2024 the adult Jackson (Jan Van Sickle) introduces his teen son, Trip (Adam Sharp-Cole) to a pair of eyeglasses he had found as a teen many years earlier while walking blindfolded with blind friend Cindy (Kellee Robin) in an exercise to empathize with blindness. Cindy hit the eyeglass case with her cane as she walked arm in arm with teen Jackson.

The adult Jackson explains to Trip that life is not neutral. To explain the non-neutrality of life, Jackson begins his story to Trip: his story of terror and battle with the world of Satan.

The glasses gave only certain wearers the ability to see things not visible to the rest of the world. Jackson (Jason Guess) was one. An inscription on the inside of the right handed earpiece read "Ad unum virum visio a Diabolu", which translated means "To one man a vision of the devil." The wearer could see things of Satan's world.

Latin students and those who read Latin will note the actual translation is "The vision of one man from the devil." The difference is negligible to the intent of the usage.

While a relatively low budget film, Invisible Enemies has a lot to offer regarding provoking thought about things we know exist but cannot detect with the five senses. For you who believe if an entity cannot be seen, touched, tasted, felt or smelled it does not exist, in other words if it cannot be proven it does not exist, let me submit the following to you. I am certain you have had a thought in your lifetime but prove it. I am equally certain you have had a pain in your lifetime but prove it.

Acting is not that good but it is not that bad either. The cast members get their points across. The actor of least skill-shaping experience appears to be Adam Sharp-Cole. Rebeka Bourke is better but only slightly. Jason Guess might be able do more if he is given more to do but did a fair job as the central cast member. Kellee Robin, with only small but integral support parts, might very well be the best on the cast.

The film utilizes the wisdom of C.S. Lewis by quoting him: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors[, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight.]" (C. S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letter. 1941, p. 3.)

This quote from Lewis sets the perfect stage to share with you our publication The Greatest Trickster which is presented below if for no other reason than to fortify Lewis' proposition about the lust of evil that you either not believe or embrace.

THE GREATEST TRICKSTER
©1997 ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Ministry

Satan is the greatest trickster of global impact mankind has ever known. His first trick was mixing God's Truth with lies in fine-sounding argument and smooth talk in defiance of God's Word. God said to Adam and Eve that if they ate of the forbidden fruit "thou shalt surely die." [Gen. 2:17] God was not speaking to dropping dead at the first bite. He was telling Adam and Eve they would lose their immortality and would eventually die. Satan, taking advantage of the ambiguity of this concept, beguiled Eve with "Ye shall not surely die." [Gen. 3:4] Eve then did eat of the forbidden fruit and convinced Adam to so the same and both lost their immorality (which is why we will each age and die). Well, Adam and Eve did not die when they first bit the forbidden fruit, but mortal death which before was not to be came about ... because of Satan's trickery. Eve was the first victim of the greatest trickster. And we have all suffered for it.

One of Satan greatest tricks is to convince many that God does not exist, keenly mixing that trick with the trick of convincing many others to think they don't need God: that we can deal with life and death all by ourselves all on our own; that nothingness lies on the other side of our last breath. Satan seasoned that trick with the salt of leading us to believe that whatever we choose to believe is the truth. Frosting for that trick is Satan convincing many others that even he does not exist.

Yet another great Satanic trick on mankind is to convince many that there are more than one god ... and goddesses. Masterful is Satan, the one who does not say we are sinners, in convincing many that sin is not really sinful or that sin is relative: that there are no moral absolutes. Yet another of Satan's great tricks is convincing many that the Bible is no more than mortal man's attempts to control the populations with fear and calling it interpretation of God's Word thus making His Word seem subject to the personal preferences and social pressures of the time the Inspired pen was put to paper.

Satan has even convinced many of they who will not reject Jesus that God can be measured by their own standards: that He must live up to our expectations; that we can comfortably be Christians on Sunday only; that God's Word is optional and can even be discarded when it gets in our way. Another very successful trick of Satan is to convince us at a young age that we do not have to answer to any authority, especially parental, and in doing so make it easy for us when grown to not submit to Jesus -- and be comfortable with it. Arrogantly.

Amidst it all, Satan has tricked even the best of the believers that they have their heels dug in, steadfast in their faith as they compromise God's Word by situationally redefining it, counterfeiting it and conditionally applying it to fill their own bellies. All in the name of "interpretation" and the human frailty of they who put pen to paper for God.

And the greatest of all of Satan's tricks is to convince us we are immune to his tricks, leading us by the nose into sin and away from Jesus while we think we are wise. These are just a few ...

I pray Jesus enriches your faith in Him with the above presentation.


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Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 82 out of 100
The film is successful at portraying a nearly constant theme violence in the form of evil and whispers from evil. When other matters of the violence nature were found they were embedded in an carrier of unholy assault and were thus incorporated into the Offense to God (O) content investigation area. For example, while the episode of Jackson being thrown against a wall by evil powers was certainly violent, due to the episode being shadowed by the evil it was incorporated into the Offense to God content investigation area. By the operating procedures of the CAP Analysis Model an act of assault on morality and wholesome ethics cannot be incorporated into two or more investigation areas. No duplication is assured.

Impudence/Hate (I) - 73 out of 100
There is no use of profanity in the entire 37.4 minutes of the production but sounds of animated arguments, deceit to facilitate immoral behavior when mom and dad are gone and of spousal abuse plus a t
veen girl, Allie (Rebeka Bourke) expressing rebellion against her drunken mother and the girl's admission of wrongdoings stole a little over 25% of the starting 100 points in this investigation area. [Rom. 12:18] Sexual Immorality (S) - 91 out of 100
Bourke is seen in a pose that exposes normally unseen cleavage in a number of views. [1 Tim. 2:9 - 10]

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 47 out of 100
A teen party portrays teen drinking, smoking, possession of illegal drugs and teen intoxication. There is danger by such a cinematic influence, so sayeth the American College of physicians (ACP).

A 2002 study by the ACP revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The report entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was

o 46% for those with no viewing restrictions
o 16% for those with partial viewing restrictions
o four percent for those with complete viewing restrictions. [Eph. 5:18]

It is reasonable to believe and is being proven more and more that any chosen negative behavior can be emboldened by cinematic demonstration of it including smoking, use of illegal drugs, profanity, sexual irresponsibility, more. Yes, behavior emboldenment by cinematic demonstration applies to good behavior as well. [Rom. 5:19]

Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100
As would be expected of a story about evil, this area is where the concentration of assaults lies. The portrayal that one could see the world of Satan with eyeglasses, while central and necessary to the story, is of dubious influence. God's name is used in vain only once and then without the four letter expletive. [Deut. 5:11] The greatest of the content applicable to this investigation area is the demon talk/whispers, the supernatural manifestation that throws Jackson against the wall while papers swirl about a room, the demon face and additional demons trying to do harm to Allie.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
There is no murder or suicide portrayed in this film. The demons tried to murder Allie but attempted murder, attempted suicide, acts of war, defensive killing and death by police action are not incorporated into this investigation are but are, when portrayed, incorporated into the Wanton Violence/Crime content investigation area.

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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)

If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.

CHAPTER/VERSE

  • Rom. 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
  • 1 Tim. 2:9 -10 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. ["...with decency" may not be ignored nor may "braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes" be allowed to redirect focus from or steal thunder from "with decency." Further, "modestly" and "with decency" addresses rejection of clothing (or lack of it) which exposes more than should be exposed. By the way guys, "modestly, with decency" applies to us as well. That which is fair for the goose is fair for the gander.]
  • Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [Since "drunk" is methusko {meth-oos'-ko}: to intoxicate; make drunk; to get drunk; become intoxicated, "wine" can be any intoxicating substance including illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs. The issue is do not abuse the body by intoxicating it [1 Cor. 6:19]. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk OR to influence to get drunk OR to drink in defiance such as underage drinking.
  • 1 Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
  • Rom. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. [Vain is shav {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as in slang or profanity. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or responsible discussion and in praise and prayer is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name or title even if as a euphemism. So, trying to excuse such expressions with "I was talking TO God/Jesus when I said that" or "It's just words" or "I was acting" will not work with Him. Nor will "Everybody says that" excuse the sin of using His name in vain. If everyone on the planet who has ever drawn a breath used His name in vain, it would still be a sin to do so. If no one ever did, it would still be a sin to do so. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not.]

    Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry

  • Jer. 37:9 - 10 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not! Even if you were to defeat the entire Babylonian army that is attacking you and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down. [The "destroyers form within" do not have to be army warriors. They can be the ones who destroy through corruption of moral standards as well, such as filmmakers who perpetuate desensitization against wholesome standards. They aren't going anywhere, folks. Not until Jesus comes again.]
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend what is vile, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it.]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize, to entice to sin. And remember, mom/dad, "little ones" is mikros, meaning less by birth; younger. All of your children are younger than you and less by birth than you. So, "little ones" includes at-home teens.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]

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    As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)

    Invisible Enemies (1997) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 82 out of 100
  • ominous theme of evil with evil whispers, frequent

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 73 out of 100
  • sounds of arguments and deceit such as spousal abuse and teen sexual sneaking
  • teen girl rebellion against drunken mother with sexual expression
  • teen girl admission of wrongdoings

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 91 out of 100
  • dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin/cleavage exposure

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 47 out of 100
  • teen party with drinking, smoking and illegal drugs
  • teen intoxication

    Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100
  • portrayal of eyeglasses giving the wearer evil supernatural vision, repeatedly
  • one use of God's name in vain
  • demons speaking, whispering, repeatedly
  • supernatural manifestation including throwing a teen boy and swirling paper and objects around room
  • demon face, repeatedly
  • demons trying to cause harm

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted















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    There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.





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    * CAP Equivalence to MPAA Rating Scale:
    Please note our new manner of indicating a film's Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating in comparison with the CAP equivalence such as "PG-13 [R-13]." The first term is the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) rating. The second term [in brackets] indicates that which the film earned under the CAP analysis model. In the example, "PG-13 [R-13]" indicates the MPAA rated the film PG-13 but the film earned a CAP final score in the scoring range earned by R-rated movies in the comparative baseline database. Other comparative terms used might be "PG [13-PG]", "G [PG-G] or even 'PG-13 [PG]" as was the case for Alien vs Predator. I doubt there will ever be a "G [R]" used, but only time will tell. The CAP analysis model is Rock-solid. The MPAA is not.

    The current CAP to MPAA** nomenclature is:

    For G rated Films with
    G equivalence: G
    PG equivalence: PG-G
    PG-13 equivalence: 13-G
    R equivalence: R-G<
    For PG rated Films with
    G equivalence: G-PG
    PG equivalence: PG
    PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG
    R equivalence: R-PG
    For PG-13 rated Films with
    G equivalence: G-13
    PG equivalence: PG(13)
    PG-13 equivalence: PG-13
    R equivalence: R-13
    For R rated Films with
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    PG equivalence: PG-R
    PG-13 equivalence: 13-R
    R equivalence: R
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    PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR
    R equivalence: R-NR
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