The Sacrament Review (2014)

Synopsis

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.

My Thoughts

If you don’t know anything about the Jonestown massacre before watching The Sacrament, good for you, it’ll knock you on your arse, and even if you do know the story, it’s still quite horrifying, and it still rattled me.

This one doesn’t bother with the usual horror you expect, we have no zombies, no ghosts, no weird little trolls jumping out at you, but instead, it’s about a cult.

That’s right, a full-on “we’re all happy until we’re not” cult, and for a found footage film, it avoids most of the cheesiness you sometimes see in these type of films.

The whole shaky camera presentation actually works here because it makes you feel like you’re sneaking into this weird, isolated world, and you’re practically watching it as a peeping tom.

Ti West loves a slow burn, and in The Sacrament, he nails it, where the first half is like the calm before the storm.

At First, it’s all smiles and good vibes at Eden Parish, but you just know something is brewing, and when we get to meet the cult members, you know it is going to end badly. (Well, you will know anyway if you are familiar with what the film is based on).

The leader of the cult, played by Gene Jones, is like your creepy uncle who found religion and won’t shut up at Christmas dinner, and he’s unsettling in the best way, and also calm, charming, and absolutely unhinged, and it’s genuinely chilling to watch.

And then, in the last half hour, the film goes completely off the rails in the best way possible, in a dark and disturbing way.

There are scenes that crawl under your skin and stay there, and the music is depressing as hell, but it’s perfect for the vibe, and by the time it was over, I felt like I needed a shower, which, honestly is what I want from a horror film.

The Sacrament is a horrifying experience, and it’s tense, realistic, and will mess with your head, and if you want a film that’ll make you question humanity, I recommend giving it a watch.

Good Points

Gene Jones Performance: His portrayal of the cult leader is terrifyingly authentic, balancing charisma and menace to create a chilling character.

Tense Build-Up: The slow burn works here, with the first half masterfully building tension and unease as the cult’s dark side begins to emerge.

Realistic Atmosphere: The found footage style is used effectively, making the story feel like a genuine documentary and pulling you into the unsettling world of the cult.

Bad Points

Slow Pace for Some: While the slow build worked for me, some people might find the first half too sluggish.

Is It Worth Watching?

Yes.

I definitely recommend it, The Sacrament is one of my favorite found footage films and a film that I find dark and unsettling, and is a film that will stick with you.

The Sacrament On IMDB
The Sacrament Trailer

Where To Watch

Amazon Prime
Apple TV

Director and Cast

Director – Ti West

Main Cast – Gene Jones, Joe Swanberg, A. J. Bowen, Kentucker Audley, Amy Seimetz, Donna Biscoe, Kate Lyn Sheil