Legion is mix of just about everything; combining elements of action, horror, drama, and even a little comedy. Too bad this blend of genres added up to such a poor movie.

Legion takes place during humanities last days on earth, with god finally becoming fed up with people and deciding it's about time for an apocalypse. We get to watch it all happen along with a few other remnants of mankind in a lonely truck stop in the middle of the desert, where one of the workers there just so happens to be pregnant with civilization's last hope of survival. God will stop at nothing to keep this child from living and sends a militia of humans possessed by angels to kill it. Now this small band of survivors, along with the help of one of God's angels turned human sympathizer Michael (Paul Bettany), must protect the unborn child against heaven's immeasurable army.

The plot for Legion may sound unusual, but it plays out like every other survival horror movie you have ever seen. The group of unlikely survivors must work together to fend off the super-natural forces. The concept of angels being the bad guys seems like a great idea, but the movie ruins it by not making the actual angels attack people, but people possessed by angels. So instead of an interesting and unique adversary we get another generic villain that could just as easily be replaced by zombies or vampires or any other over-used monster.

The movie does have some descent action and occasionally unexpected scares, but these moments are too few and far between to give the movie any momentum. A possessed toddler and battle between two angels give the movie some life, but the other frights are predictable and the angelic duel is the only action to be found. The movie also throws in some dark humor and overly long dramatic monologues by the characters to try and give the film an extra shot of personality, but these feel boring and forced, working against Legion's final product.

The acting doesn't do Legion any favors either. With characters like Jeep (Yes, that is actually his name), who is perhaps one of the dullest heroes to ever exist on screen, it doesn't give the performers very much to work with. Even so, there is little realistic emotion on screen. Every character gives their own heartfelt speech, and every one of them comes off forced and dull. All these speeches do is put the audience to sleep while they're waiting for the next attack.

Even the battle hardened angelic protector played by Bettany, was less than entertaining. All of his lines were delivered in a soft, hardened voice, intending to make him seem like a rugged guardian, but instead just made him seem like he was trying too hard. He never really came off as tough, even when he was involved in the movies most action filled fight, you never really believe he is someone you would pick to take on a superhuman army and trust that he could win.

Legion had an interesting concept, but was spoiled in its execution. With some lackluster horror and action as well as some mediocre acting, the movie failed to give the audience any reason to stay interested in the plight of humanities last chance for survival

Grade: D+

By Nick Baker