Review of The Sacrament (2014) by Thomas C — 20 Jul 2014

Swanner: I was the lucky one who got to screen the new film from director Ti West (House of the Devil) and producer Eli Roth called The Sacrament. The film is yet another "found footage" film where a documentary filmmaker follows a co-worker to a jungle paradise where his sister is living. Once the group gets to Eden Parish they realize this isn't more than just another cult as the followers praise their love and support to the father. A Jim Jones like cult leader.

I suppose there are plenty of young people who have never heard of the Johnstown Massacre but once the characters hit the compound it's all I could think of. Does the film have good qualities? Of course it does but because the film is such a rip off of Johnstown or because of the "found footage" aspect or even the overall bad acting this film didn't work for me. Pluses, Ti West has paced the film well and there are some tense moments. Gene Jones plays "Father" very well. He never looses that charismatic quality that every good cult leader needs even though mirroring some of the "big" acting that was going on around him must have been a challenge.

The film rarely offers any surprises, especially once you realize you're just watching another Jonestown rip off. The few good performances are watered down by the bulk of bad performances. I do think there is some talent here considering most of the cast was in one our favorite films from last year, You're Next, including the director Joe Swanberg who plays Jake the photographer. I think if they would have just said this was based on Jonestown then I wouldn't be complaining about films obvious similarities. I keep hearing about how Ti West is the next best horror director but if The Sacrament is an example of that I say no.

Swanner * 1/2.