''Jerusalem Countdown'' is a 2011

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

adapted from the speculative fiction novel of the same name by

John Hagee John Charles Hagee (born April 12, 1940) is an American pastor and televangelist. The founder of John Hagee Ministries, his ministry is telecast to the United States and Canada. Hagee is also the founder and chairman of the Christian-Zionist or ...

. It was directed and co-written by

Harold Cronk Harold David Cronk (born October 27, 1973) is an American writer, director and producer best known for his work in Christian films, and for being a founding partner in 10 West Studios and EMC Productions. Cronk won the Best Director award at th ...

and stars

David A.R. White David Andrew Roy White (born May 12, 1970) is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer and businessman. He is a co-founder of Pinnacle Peak Pictures, a distribution and production company specializing in Christian faith- a ...

, Anna Zielinski,

Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country music and gospel music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. Active from 1978 until being incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, he has recor ...

Lee Majors Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. Majors portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western series ''The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the American television ...

Stacy Keach Walter Stacy Keach Jr. (born June 2, 1941) is an American actor and narrator. He has played mainly dramatic roles throughout his career, often in law enforcement or as a private detective. His most prominent role was as Mickey Spillane's fictiona ...

, and

Marco Khan Marco Khan (born Marco Khanlian; * March 27, 1961) is an Iranian-born Armenian-American actor and stunt performer. He has appeared in numerous well-known film and television series like '' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Iron Man,' ...

Plot

As negotiations take place in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

regarding

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, senior

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...

agent Shane Daughtry (

David A. R. White David Andrew Roy White (born May 12, 1970) is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer and businessman. He is a co-founder of Pinnacle Peak Pictures, a distribution and production company specializing in Christian faith- a ...

) is contacted by Arlin Rockwell (

), an arms dealer. Rockwell informs Daughtry of his role in an operation known as "Seven Wonders". Before he can reveal what it is, Rockwell is abruptly murdered by Nick Tanner ( Matthew Tailford), a terrorist assassin. Daughtry pursues and manages to apprehend Tanner. Meanwhile, agent Eve Rearden ( Anna Zielinski) meets with her father Jackson (

), who tries to warn her of the negotiations inevitable disastrous results. She ignores him and leaves. Rearden later meets with Daughtry, who she had a falling out with after an operation gone wrong. After some investigating, they discover that the "Sevens Wonders" are actually

nuclear warheads A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission, fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion, fusion reactions (Thermonuclear weapon, thermonu ...

that have been smuggled into the country. They learn that the bombs are intended to cripple the United States and leave Israel vulnerable to attack. After interrogating Tanner, Daughtry learns that an organization known as the "Revolution of God" is behind the conspiracy. They take this information to Jack (

), a

CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian intelligence agency, foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gat ...

officer. Jack informs them that the "Revolution of God" is an alleged group of world leaders who plan to dominate the world. They also learn that Matthew Dean (

Nick Jameson Nicholas Jameson (born December 5, 1950) is an American actor, musician and producer, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Russian president Yuri Suvarov over three seasons on the show '' 24''. He currently resides in Reykjavík doing live c ...

), a former CIA agent, is also working for the organization. Jack refuses to tell them anything else, leaving Daughtry suspicious. After interrogating Tanner again, they learn that the organization intends to assassinate the visiting

Israeli Prime Minister The prime minister of Israel ( he, רֹאשׁ הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה, Rosh HaMemshala, Head of the Government, Hebrew acronym: he2, רה״מ; ar, رئيس الحكومة, ''Ra'īs al-Ḥukūma'') is the head of government and chief exe ...

. Rearden leaves to protect the Prime Minister, while Daughtry goes to

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, where he has learned the bombs are being kept. Dean infiltrates the airport the Prime Minister is leaving from, and plants a bomb on the plane. Rearden spots Dean, however, after a shootout, the bomb is detonated, killing the Prime Minister. Upon arriving in Chicago, Daughtry is informed that the nukes are being kept in a suburban neighborhood. Daniel, a local resident who had grown suspicious of the homes' occupants, helps Daughtry defeat the terrorists and stop the bombs from being detonated. Dean contacts his superior, who berates him for the failed operation. He is then killed by Tanner, who had earlier escaped FBI custody. Tanner takes Dean's phone and speaks to the leader, who is revealed to be Jack. Jack then tells him to await further orders, and Tanner sets off a bomb which destroys Dean's vehicle. Back in Chicago, Daughtry contacts Rearden, and hopes to find Dean. Suddenly, however, an earthquake occurs, and the sky turns red. Then, the

Rapture The rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an Eschatology, end-time event when all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurre ...

occurs, taking all

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

, including Jackson and Daniel, off the earth. Rearden laments not listening to her father, and fears for the future. Daughtry then departs to save Rearden as the city quickly descends into chaos.

Cast

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was written by Jeehun Hwang.

Reception

Several reviewers complained about character development that leads nowhere and excessive attention lavished on newscasts pertaining to negotiations in Israel, the importance of these issues characters might be revisited in a sequel. Victor Medina's review for ''Cinelix'' mentions an additional nine cut scenes from the

Blu-ray The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...

, that would have provided more character development, but would have also slowed down the action. For this type of film, Jerusalem Countdown includes better than average performances, a fair degree of filmmaking craft, but some rote and cliché ridden writing.

References

External links

Website
* * * {{Harold Cronk 2011 films American action thriller films Films directed by Harold Cronk 10 West Studios films Films about the rapture Pure Flix Entertainment films Films shot in Michigan Films shot in Los Angeles Films based on American novels Films produced by David A. R. White Films about the Federal Bureau of Investigation Films about assassinations Films set in Chicago Films with screenplays by David A. R. White 2011 directorial debut films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films