The story of what actually happened at Jonestown is a horror story that Stephen King himself wished he came up with. The Sacrament (2013) is about reenacting the story of the Jonestown Massacre. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. The Sacrament is a film that grabs you by the heat and drags you into into the deepest, darkness recesses of human depravity and evil and refuses to ever hold back. Knowing the story is based on true events only adds the to terror. Low-budget horror tyro Ti West evokes Jonestown for a generation of viewers too young to remember the place, or the horrific event named for it, in "The Sacrament." The horror in this film comes from mankind itself, not a supernatural being, or a monster with a machete. It should really say "Based on a true story," the story being the Jonestown massacre of 1978. To me horror always works best when you focus on something that is very real and this is no exception. There are a lot of Ti West fans out there, some of my favorite critics included. THE SACRAMENT By Olaf Olafsson. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes. I still certainly recommend it if you're a jaded horror fan, it might not fully restore your faith in the genre but it will get you started on that path. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Best Netflix Shows and Series To Binge (January 2021), The 100 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (January 2021), 100 Best Movies on Amazon Prime To Watch (January 2021). "The Sacrament" borrows heavily, if not totally, from the 1978 Jonestown Massacre. Forgot your password? The movie’s weakest sequence is its opening, done in faux-televised video style with static-punctuated jump cuts, showing a meeting at the offices of edgy media entity Vice (a written prologue explaining to the audience what Vice is ought to win a prize for Lamest Prose To Appear In A Motion Picture Nearly Ever) at which "fashion photographer" Patrick (Kentucker Audley) recounts to beardo editor Sam (A.J. The Sacrament is one of the bleakest, ugliest and most joyless films I have ever seen. THE SACRAMENT is a fake horror documentary clearly based on the Jonestown cult massacre of the late 1970s, and seen through the eyes of a TV crew from the real-life news series “Vice.” THE SACRAMENT has a disturbing tone but there’s a light moral worldview where two journalists try to save some of the cult members though they fail. But, when I first saw the first trailer for this film, I was struck by how much alike this film was to the actual Jonestown Massacre that this film very openly and shamelessly "borrows" from. HouseOfHorrors.com is one of the most extensive Horror Movie Collection and serving millions of our fans for more than 20 years. The problem is that there is literally no hint of horror, none whatsoever. Then, as the party is going, Sam and Jake get a note from a little girl that said 'Please help us' and, like if a switch went off, the film went straight into the horror. It is another found footage "docudrama," but thankfully doesn't stick strictly to found footage rules. | Rotten (26). Some of the critics say the plot moved along too slowly, but as someone who has an extremely short attention The Sacrament was surprisingly good. There's nothing here, as good as the film actually is, that I wouldn't have gotten from watching a documentary. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. and the Terms and Policies, The realistic scenery, acting and story line were definitely impressive. The movie takes a bit of time to get going, but once I really liked the main characters. |, March 22, 2019 The expression "drank the Kool Aid," although historically inaccurate, has its roots in the Jonestown affair. Sam smells a story, so he, Patrick, and videographer Jake (filmmaker Joe Swanberg) set off to "Eden Parish" to check out the scene. Ti West is usually a competent director but he shows in this sloppy and horribly edited movie that he doesn't seem to understand at all how the found footage device should be used, as he even forces the characters to carry a camera up and down in the most ludicrous of situations. This is the kind of thriller/horror movie I like: realistic, not over-the-top, and compelling. The fact that it actually happened, and probably continues to happen on a much smaller scale, adds that little shudder that you get when you think of something creepy. While it has no real reason to be a found footage movie, The Sacrament tells a horrifying story based on true events. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Again, the horrors of man are far more fucked up than the horrors of a supernatural being. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 64% of 70 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating was 5.86/10. It was intriguing enough to make me look Jonestown on Wikipedia (for the record, the actual massacre was way worse than what happens in this movie). After a very very slow first 45 mins, where the most exciting thing is the background music, we reach the main event. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. | Rating: 4/5 R (Brief Drug Use|Bloody Images|Disturbing Violent Content|Language), Arcade, Coming Soon. In any event, the intrigue is less in the tale than in the telling. Fun fact: Joe Swanberg (Jake), AJ Bowen (Sam), Amy Seimetz (Caroline), and The Sacrament’s director, Ti West, all worked together in You’re Next (2011). | Rating: 3/5 After writer/director Ti West's two great horror movies, The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, his oddly conventional THE SACRAMENT is something of a letdown. She’ll have to check with "Father" to see if these documentarians may be permitted to document. The movie is more of a documentary horror film than a found footage film, where the editing actually makes sense, unlike the editing in found footage. But its a fictional yarn loosely based on the real life events. You can see how he has this hold and control over people that is undeniable. The Sacrament is a 2014 English language Horror movie directed by Ti West.We hope you will be able to find this The Sacrament Review article useful. Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service. Documentary style horror with an unyielding lens makes for less scares and more anxiety. I am just not a fan of "slow-burn" movies. But, regardless of that, I still thought that the last half of the film was exceptionally well-made and really disturbing. It doesn’t offer many scares or scare tactics but it definitely shows you how evil the human race can be. The Sacrament movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating of 4.50 out of 5 Stars. Here, Ti West manages to take that distain up to another level. I'm not against that at all, if that makes you happy and you feel fulfilled, then by all means go right ahead. Folks of a certain age, or those who know a bit about nasty episodes in U.S. history, will have some idea of where this is going. Released by Magnet Releasing. I usually don't write reviews of movies, mostly because I hate feeding into the negativity culture that surrounds pop culture these days. At no moment in this first half, is there even a hint of horror. The Sacrament Movie Review. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. However this awful "found- footage" genre spoils the creepy story. You get some interviews with some of the members, but they don't really probe that deep into what it takes to truly leave everything you are and you know behind, in order to start over anew in this community. Other than the peace and calm, at first glance at least. I know that people consider male urban hipster journalists pretty irritating, but come on. Written and directed by Ti West 2013, 95 minutes, Rated R Released on May 1st, 2014 (VOD/iTunes) | … The second half, however, when all hell breaks loose a little too quickly, is the disappointment. I was a bit on the fence with this film prior to watching it. Because of that, it was a little jarring to see the film dive headfirst into the horror pool, if you will, as if it was a dare that was accepted immediately. Audience Reviews for The Sacrament Jun 03, 2016 A more sensitive man than I would probably have been offended enough to write The Sacrament off entirely. Constantly throughout the course of The Sacrament, there are scenarios which make absolutely zero sense from a found-footage standpoint. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Arguably more hit, but unfortunately the misses are at the times when it matters most. | Rating: 3/4 Metacritic rated it 49/100 based on 21 reviews. For all that, the movie gets its disreputable work done; not only will "The Sacrament" creep you out, it’ll also make you want to shower. Home » Review » Movie » The Sacrament. We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. Thankfully, the point's moot because I really didn't care for The Sacrament at all. The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. That's an universal story that isn't exclusively told through the confines of a cult. I've heard the audio tape, but I cannot confirm or deny whether some of what Jim Jones said was used verbatim in this film, but I'm pretty sure they did. It makes the whole thing to me seem pointless when a documentary can probably tell me everything I need to know in a more compelling manner. The tension fizzles as The Sacrament narrows into predictability, indulging every clich of found-footage filmmaking and Jonestown-styled cult apocalypticism. That's how the guy carries himself and props to the guy for doing a great job here. Coming Soon, Regal |, July 20, 2020 Some of these people even, openly, start having sex with little kids because of the fact that no one would dare to question their leader. The Sacrament was surprisingly good. If the purpose of a horror movie is to horrify, Ti West's The Sacrament is a very good horror movie. Coming Soon. 6.5 / 10. I don't know, it seems pretty classless, but I don't think I should. By Ananda Dillon @anandawrites on May 2, 2014. Everything that happens is what you'd expect, and the choice of subject and the modifications West has made to the generic conventions don't add much to the suspense or thrills. |, June 12, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 The Sacrament. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! The acting isn't really important in this type of film, but it is more than solid. Bowen) that his formerly drugged-out sister has quit the United States to live at some kind of sober commune that sounds kind of like a cult. It's to the point that I think part of Father's speech at the end of the film, where he says they have to go, was borrowed from an audio tape where Jim Jones, leader of the cult, was discussing with his followers about their suicide pact. West sets his story in the present day. I wish the film would've taken a more in-depth look at the members of this community instead of keeping them at a distance. |, June 6, 2014 So props for that. So with all that said, I was a bit hesitant before watching the film, because of how heavily it seemed to borrow from that very real tragedy. Worldview Entertainment, June 26, 2014 They just spend their day interviewing the members and later that night they interview Father and afterwards they have a party. Verified Purchase. I think that also affected the film critics' opinions as well, even if they might not say so. Is that something I should let negatively influence my opinion on the movie? Just confirm how you got your ticket. This low-budget bungle-in-the-jungle chiller has a lot of smarts and perception about its organic fear-inducing impulses than most of its creepy contemporaries with a higher profile. The film is well-written and well-paced, but I had a problem the first half of the film. These is where these con men thrive, on the weak and lonely. I don't doubt that some of these people start off with the best of intentions, perhaps Jim Jones didn't, but when you have that kind of power, where people worship the ground you walk, they do everything you ask without question, I think that kind of power can be intoxicating to a man. Low-budget horror tyro Ti West evokes Jonestown for a generation of viewers too young to remember the place, or the horrific event named for it, in "The Sacrament." Set as a documentary for VICE, freelance photographer Patrick (Kentucker Audley- V/H/S) discovers that his sister has moved to a remote country and joined a mysterious commune. | Rating: C- The problem is that it's filmed like a trendy art-house movie meets paranormal activity style, but the plot and detail is just dumb. ADHD maybe?). | Rating: 3/5 The Sacrament might not quite be a breakout for West, as the concept might not fly with mainstream audiences, but it still establishes him as one of the only consistent horror filmmakers working today. "The Sacrament" or the "The Last Sacrament" (depending on what name you heard it promoted by) is a decently paced and plotted revisit of the Jonestown massacre of the late 70's. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. A complex and satisfying psychological thriller set in a remote and seemingly peaceful commune in rural America. "The Sacrament" is a suspenseful horror movie with a music score in the beginning that recalls "The Twilight Zone". Indie horror filmmaker Ti West is best known as the modern king of "slow burn" horror (seriously, there are hardly any reviews that DON'T use that phrase -- I promised myself I was going to avoid it and now have done it in the first paragraph). His segment in the first VHS was quite bad but, other than that, I've found Ti West to be a beacon of hope in the horror genre, whether independent or not. West is such a technically accomplished filmmaker, and his cast of semi-regulars so committed to the narrative, that the resultant movie gives enough unsettling atmosphere and upsetting gut-level shock that this viewer didn’t mind too much all the stuff he wasn’t getting, such as intellectual coherence, not to mention any kind of profound insight into the cult hive mind. In his eagerness to get on with the awfulness, West risks some plausibility complaints. It is not really a horror film. Data-based on Rotten TomatoesGrade: B+ Director: Ti West Screenplay: Ti West The sense of foreboding and solid acting keeps this slow-burn very entertaining indeed. | Fresh (45) The Sacrament Review Fair The Sacrament opens with a whimper, building Eden Parish's dull allure, but goes out with a sadistically horrific bang - rewarding the most patient of viewers. The Dogma 95 has only 77 recognized movies, but this rip-off of the genre seems to be the easiest means to produce cheap low-budget movies in the present days. The Sacrament Review. Here are my final thoughts for “The Sacrament”: Concept/Story: 1.5/2 Style/Effect: 2/2 Atmosphere: 2/2 Scares: 0/2 Rewatchability: 1/2 With this long, drawn-out review out of the way, I really enjoyed this film. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Not-a-fun-fact: this is where the "drinking the Kool Aid" phrase originated, which I found out for the first time reading up on the actual circumstance of the tragedy. | Rating: 2.5/4 Written and directed by Ti West (The House of The Devil, V/H/S, The ABC’s of Death) The Sacrament is bursting with tension from the get-go. Building his plot around the issue of child abuse by Catholic clergy, Olafsson (One Station Away, 2017, etc.) Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. But even I was a little ticked off by Ti West's microcosm retelling of the Jonestown Massacre. Pitching events as real is a tried-and-tested formula for horror movies these days, but in this case it seems unnecessary, and at times a little tasteless. The people involved with the film have all been pretty hit and miss in the past. The Sacrament is not a fun movie. 2.0 out of 5 stars This one didn't sit well. I'm just generally turned off by the whole thing. If you want to get a sense of what it was like when the adults and children (including babies) were given cyanide-laced Kool Aid, you won't be disappointed. Personally I think the film could've done more to show the desperation of some of these people and how that drove them towards joining this community. You're almost there! The consensus reads: "While it may be a bit too slow for some, The Sacrament offers enough tense atmosphere and intriguing ideas to satisfy discerning horror buffs." Of course there will always be something weird about countless people worshiping the word of one man as if he was god himself, but that doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything strange, or wildly illegal, going on under the surface. Personally, I'm not one for judging art from a moral point of view, I think it's easy to separate myself from watching films through that lens. It's fucked up really and I think that film shows that mentality in a real and disturbing way. The Sacrament (Movie Review) ... -hipster Ti West returns to explore the insidious inner-workings of a religious cult with his new horror joint THE SACRAMENT - a movie … At least that's my view of things. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. Regal Cinemark The film opens with text describing the working practices of VICE Media, which specializes in “immersion journalism.” Seeing all the people laid out on the field, much like the real life photos of people in Jonestown after being forced to commit suicide, is incredibly eerie, in how close it actually looks to the real photos, with the exception that 200 people died in the film whereas over 900 died for real. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". That’s not nothing. Written by Ted McCarthy. I’m a horror aficionado. Is that a spoiler? W ith The Sacrament, director Ti West has bitten off more of a premise than his classically modest barebones approach to horror movies can presently chew. |, A more sensitive man than I would probably have been offended enough to write The Sacrament off entirely. They didn't slowly ease you into it, there was no tension built up, at least in my opinion. It adds another notch to the belt of Ti West's repertoire. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. |, October 15, 2018 The acting, visuals, and over all quality is amazing. No, what bothered me was that he pretended it wasn't inspired by the Peoples Temple. Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2018. The Sacrament (2013) Review Director and writer Ti West (The Innkeepers, Dead and Lonely, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever) could have done a way better job with this movie. Found footage reveals the events surrounding an investigative team's visit to a remote commune, led by a dangerous fanatic who maintains an iron grip on his followers. Knowing that something is gonna happen prior to watching the film because you've seen thousands of horror movies is not properly building up tension. Gene Jones is excellent because he carries himself much like if he actually was a cult leader. At Sundance Sunset Cinema, Los Angeles. Not for the completely reasonable explanation of profiting from an actual tragedy, honestly that sort of thing never really phased me. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. 23% All Critics (71) | Top Critics (22) But, and perhaps most importantly, the fact that this film "borrowed" so much from Jonestown is probably one of the reasons it gets the rating I gave it and not higher. There's some cringe-worthy bad reactions in the climax of the movie, especially from the leads. |, June 6, 2014 It doesn't offer many scares or scare tactics but it definitely shows you how evil the human race can be. # the sacrament movie review located under the header in your order Confirmation email the course the. The second half, however, when all hell breaks loose a little too quickly, is disappointment. After a very very slow first 45 mins, where the most exciting thing is the background music, reach... 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