Taking The Sacrament is a Life Changing Event: A Movie Review

Director/writer: Ti West.

Cast: Joe Swanberg, Kate Lyn Sheil, Amy Seimetz, AJ Bowen and Gene Jones.

The Sacrament is a found footage styled film from director Ti West (The Innkeepers). The film chronicles real life events, the Jonestown mass suicide. Over 909 people died in Guyana in 1978, under Jim Jones' orders. In the film, Jim Jones is replaced by the Father, played by Gene Jones. Two Vice correspondents record the macabre events at the cult's isolated location. Sometimes shocking and disturbing through the climax, The Sacrament is a compelling film based on real life tragedy.

The film begins with three documentarians. Jake (Joe Swanberg), Sam (AJ Bowen) and Patrick (Kentucker Audley) are making their way down to an isolated community, in the middle of a South American or African forest. Here, they are introduced to a religious community. Everything seems normal at first. But then, some of the cultists want to leave the community and the Father, the cult leader, wants everyone to stay. Most find themselves drinking the Kool-Aid, with few surviving their stay at Eden Parish.

The Father: a snake in the grass.

Director Ti West brings many elements of cults to his film. Cults often have similar organizational structures. There is a charismatic figurehead. In the film, the Father fulfills this role. The Father is doing good work for the people as he states in a chilling interview. All of his followers fall under his sway. As well, cults are often located in isolated locales. The setting in the film is set in the wilds of an unnamed forest. It would be impossible for anyone to escape, even if they wanted to. The appearance of a helicopter and the possibility of getting away from Eden Parish creates the energy in the final act. Also, cults are often run by strange, religous doctrines. The doctrines are not really fully explained in the film, but the Father believes in imperialism and his persecution by American officials. These doctrines are enough to send over a hundred people to the death. The Sacrament is a well-researched film, which is realistically based on elements of an actual cult.

The Sacrament is really the documentation of Jonestown. There are many elements that are comparable between Jonestown and Eden Parish. Jonestown was located in Guyana and the film looks like it was set in this country. As well, the character of the Father looks very much like the real life Jim Jones. The Father is dressed in simple clothes like Jones and the big glasses of the Father reminded this viewer of documentaries on this depraved man. Also, the film's climax is focused on the mass suicide of the community, which is the final event that ended the Jonestown community. This final act is based on the last moments of the Jonestown community, over thirty-five years ago. And, films based on real life events are often more shocking than ones based on fiction.

This title utilizes a found footage shooting style in a somewhat awkward way. Found footage shooting styles are often used to make the viewer feel like they are part of the action onscreen. This style of shooting provides an almost first person perspective, but it is rarely the best way to shoot action. Steady shots could have been used for several scenes and one scene seems particularly strange. The character Jake is being chased by two armed gunmen; they are intent on Jake's demise. And, Jake continues to film himself being chased by the gunmen. At what point do you put the camera down and focus on saving your life? In the film's defence, the camera is left behind later in the scene. But, the strange scenes continue later in the film. A few scenes later, Jake films the burning death of the character Caroline (Amy Seimetz), Patrick's sister. This viewer would be too horrified by these sorts of events to film them. Though, all of the action is documented. This watcher believes that found footage films are often better served by utilizing other shooting styles, like steady shooting or shooting through other devices e.g. security cameras.

Overall, The Sacrament is an exciting film, based on real life events. The events onscreen are sometimes shot in an unbelievable manner, but all of the action is recorded competently. Ti West has created a real life massacre in his film and most horror fans will find the action elements here to be satisfying. Characterizations are not a focus of the film and neither are subplots, but The Sacrament delivers an adrenalin rush at times and the film is highly recommended.

Overall: 7 out of 10.

A trailer for the film is here:

The Sacrament Trailer on 28DLA


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Posted in: 2014,cult,horror,movie,movie review,preview,review,surreal,ti west