The Sacrament - 2013

The Sacrament - 2013 - Ti West

If you're a fan of Ti West's films House of the Devil, The Innkeepers and Cabin Fever 2 you won't be disappointed with The Sacrament even though technically it doesn't fall into the Horror genre.  Without a doubt the single reason I loved this movie is because of the captivating acting of Gene Jones who plays The Father.

Three junior news reporters Jake (Joe Swanberg) Sam (AJ Bowen) and Patrick (Kentucker Audley) document their journey to locate Patrick's sister Caroline (Amy Seimetz) who has joined a religious cult called Eden Parish located in a remote area of the jungle.  Once they arrive and realize she is safe they make an effort to investigate what the cult is all about.  All of the residents claim they are in paradise and have graciously endowed their faith in the mysterious leader known only as "The Father" played by Gene Jones.  His presence when on on screen is nothing short of mesmerizing.  He captures the profound believability of a cult leader who will do anything for his followers.




The first half of the film builds a tense foundation to the story in a way that indicates that something just isn't right at Eden Parish. While the reporters continue to dig deeper they're approached by some of the followers that want to leave with them.  This sets off a chain reaction which leads to The Father willing his follows to commit mass suicide.  The 2nd part of the film follows the parish members as some of them willingly "Drink the kool-aid" and those that refuse.  While this atrocity unfolds the reporters are taken prisoner and eventually try to escape while the armed guards of the compound ensure that all the followers die.

The Sacrament does fall into the found footage genre but very easily could have been a standard film.  Most found footage movies leave much to be desired with regards to the overall story being told but The Sacrament nails it. It's basically the story of the Jonestown Massacre, so if you are familiar with that event you will know what to expect.

All Cheerleaders Die - 2013

All Cheerleaders Die - 2013 - Directors -Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson
 

At first glance All Cheerleaders Die looks like the  "A"  typical horror comedy, "You know the type" where the jocks and their cheerleader girlfriends are hated by the socially introverted goth chick and her weird friend that have been wronged somehow.

Think Jennifer's Body meets The Craft and Mean Girls.
 
After the death of her childhood best friend Alexis; Maddy (Caitlin Stasey) is angered when Alexis's boyfriend Terry (Tom Williamson) who is the leader of the football team starts to immediately date the next cheerleader on the squad Tracy (Brooke Butler).  Maddy now wants to join the cheerleaders so she can seek revenge against them.  She starts to make them feel that the other is cheating while seducing Tracy herself.  Things go from typical high school drama to down right crazy when all of the cheerleaders die in a car crash (hence All Cheerleaders Die).  Maddy's ex-girlfriend is so overcome by all of their deaths that she invokes a Pagan ritual to bring them all back from the dead.  Now that they're back from the dead they realize they have a thirst for human blood.




Fortunately All Cheerleaders Die has a great twist halfway through otherwise I would have really struggled to find a reason to recommend it. One of my biggest problems is the pacing of the film.  It continually goes off and on track throughout the first half of the film while not allowing to find a character to like or even relate too.  There is a fair amount of gore while the cheerleaders understand they need to feed on human blood, this comes with some decent laughs.

If you're looking for a scarfest you'll have to look elsewhere but if you like whiny MTV dramas with some blood sprinkled in, then your in luck.

mmmm. Tastes like chicken

Do I have anything on my face??