The Celestine Prophecy

The New Age philosophies introduced in James Redfield’s 1993 best-seller are revived with campy absurdity in this laughable thriller. Acting on a tip from an old gal pal who shows up to gush about the unearthing of some ancient religious scrolls, out-of-work schoolteacher John (Settle) heads to the Peruvian rain forest. There, he hooks up with a group of mystics translating the hallowed texts, who offer insights like “open up” and “don’t take someone else’s energy,” and begins experiencing phantasmagoric visions that wouldn’t faze the average drug user, while a quivering soundtrack insists on our reverence. One might pity Redfield—were his name not in the production credits. (Opens Fri; Village East.) — Erin Clements