"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
The Remaining is a 2014 apocalyptic religious found-footage horror movie directed and written by Casey La Scala. The movie stars Johnny Pacar, Shaun Sipos, Bryan Dechart, Alexa Vega, Italia Ricci, Liz E. Morgan and John Pyper-Ferguson.
The film follows Skylar "Sky" (Alexa Vega) and Dan's (Bryan Dechart) wedding celebrating their wedding day... on the same day as the Rapture. The couple and their friends are forced to fight for survival while examining their own beliefs.
Tropes featured in The Remaining include:
- Apocalypse How: Edges between Class 5 and Class 6.
- Caught Up in the Rapture: The event that kickstarts the movie's main conflict.
- Death from Above: When Daniel rants at God after Sky dies from her injuries, he gets a giant tentacle implied through his back and drags him up the sky.
- Death of a Child: Children die en masse because of the Rapture and a pregnant woman gives birth to a stillborn infant for the same reason.
- Despair Event Horizon: Daniel crosses this when Sky dies, which leads to his rant, and his death.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Near the end of the film, it's discovered that the demons attack displays of faith. This knowledge comes too late to save the refugee camp, since the local congregation is pumping Amazing Grace over the PA and baptizing people. Then, just to rub salt in the wound, the last trumpet is blown and fallen angels descend to finish the job.
- Facial Horror: Special mention goes to the diner chef who lands on the grill when he is raptured.
- Foregone Conclusion: Considering this is the Rapture. The movie ends with the last trumpet being blown, and massive swarms of fallen angels descending from the heavens to kill off the human race. The only way to escape this cruel fate is by accepting God, where those who do suffer a (possible) painless death.
- From Bad to Worse: As the Rapture progresses, all children and Christians are taken, demonic attacks become more frequent, the weather becomes more and more violent, and the last trumpet can blow at any time for the fallen angels to descend.
- Good-Times Montage: The movie begins with a series of older found-footage videos of Sky and Dan's happy moments, and the events preceding their wedding.
Makes the tragedy of the movie's later bits more poignant. - Hellish Pupils: When someone is raptured, their pupils contract to a pinprick size.
- Hell Is That Noise: The trumpets.
- Hope Spot: The survivors have gone through hell and back and have made it to a relief camp. But it all goes to hell when a fleet of demons attack the camp due to Amazing Grace playing on the speaker, and it happens to be around the same time the final trumpet blows.
- Hostile Weather: Out of proportion hail, weird cloud patterns, among other weird weather occur post-Rapture.
- Mood Whiplash: The wedding is a source of enjoyability and positivity. Then the Rapture happens and it is a pure 180.
- Our Angels Are Different: The fallen angels that descend from the heavens look serpentine and accurately demonic.
- Our Demons Are Different: The demons that roam the Earth post-Rapture very well look otherworldly.
- Rousing Speech: Pastor Shay manages to lift up the spirits of the people, including Tommy and his friends, before the fallen angels attack the church and kill him.
- Pastor Shay: For those of you whom I haven't met, I am Pastor Shay. And I have been a fraud. It's true. I walk through this sanctuary with my soul asleep. In Matthew, Jesus said there will be those who use his name in fancy speeches and sermons, and Jesus said unto them, "I never knew you. " Forgive me, Jesus. I never knew you. I was a charlatan. I was a traveling salesman passing through life hocking his wares. Like you and you. I needed something miraculous to open my eyes to the truth. To see clearly. I hold myself responsible not only for my failed faith, but everyone yet still stands here today. This is our wake-up call. The path before us will not be easy. It will not go unchallenged. And this path will lead to pain and suffering, even death. But real life, eternal life, is where the path leads. But this is our opportunity. I can now show you the way. We can share this journey together.
- Wham Line: In the movie's beginning, just before the Rapture occurs, "Did you feel that?", "It just got so cold."
- Worst Wedding Ever: The second the air turns cold and people start dropping dead, Sky and Dan's wedding becomes pure chaos.
- Your Soul Is Mine!: The Rapture vacuums up the souls of the innocent while leaving their lifeless bodies behind.
