On an expedition to the city of Concepción, Chile, they investigate claims that the corpse of a priest who has been dead for 40 years remains in pristine condition.

In Louisiana, Katherine receives a call from a friend, Father Michael Costigan, who says that his photographs of her have developed burn marks that when assembled, form a sickle-like symbol "ㄜ", a possible warning from God, which she ignores.

Katherine and Ben get a call asking them to come to a nearby farm, where they find that the cows are dying of an unknown disease.

The owner of the farm tells them that the McConnell family has been visited by people who appear to be Satan worshippers and that he saw evidence of a religious sacrifice.

Later that evening, Katherine tells Doug why she left the church; 5 years ago, she was an ordained minister.

While doing missionary work with her husband and daughter in southern provinces of Sudan during the Sudanese Civil War, the locals sacrificed her family, believing they caused a drought.

Ben and Katherine examine Loren's brother's body, finding the sickle-like symbol branded into his lower back.

Katherine locks herself in the house and Ben hides in a crypt, where he discovers skeletons and bodies of sacrificed children.

The cult, which encompasses the entire town and Doug, is shown trying to kill Loren since she has reached puberty.

He reveals that his family recruited the entire town into the satanic cult, as the hurricanes that destroyed the old church led them to believe that God had abandoned them.

Filming for the movie took place in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana with many scenes shot in an abandoned WalMart store.

The DVD special features record that the producers considered shooting in another city, but decided that Louisiana needed the economic benefit of the movie being shot there.

[1] The score was originally written by Philip Glass, and went as far as the recording; however, the producers were not completely satisfied and decided to give it another try.

[4][5] The aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 8% based on 134 reviews, and an average rating of 3.49/10, with the consensus stating: "It may feature such accomplished actors as Hilary Swank and Stephen Rea, but The Reaping also boasts the apropos tagline "What hath God wrought?".

"[6] Jacqueline van Rysselberghe, the Mayor of Concepción, Chile, formally objected to the producers of the film over its portrayal of the city in the opening scene.