The Believers (1987)
1h 54m | PG-13
Mourning the accidental death of his wife and having just moved to New York with his young son, laconic police psychologist Cal Jamison is reluctantly drawn into a series of grisly, ritualistic murders involving the immolation of two youths.
Director: John Schlesinger
Studio: Orion Pictures
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Video: 720p
Cast
Martin Sheen
as Cal Jamison
Helen Shaver
as Jessica Halliday
Harley Cross
as Chris Jamison
Robert Loggia
as Lt. Sean McTaggert
Elizabeth Wilson
as Kate Maslow
Harris Yulin
as Robert Calder
Reviews
***Unpleasant big city crime drama with Martin Sheen that morphs into sorcery-oriented horror*** A widowed therapist (Martin Sheen) moves back to New York City to find himself assisting the NYPD in a series of slayings linked to a Caribbean Voodoo-like cult. Things get worse when he discovers they want his son for a human sacrifice. Helen Shaver plays his landlord and possible romantic interest. “The Believers” (1987) is an adult-oriented crime drama that gets increasingly horrific. The plot and tone are akin to “Wolfen” (1981), albeit with the brujería cult replacing the super-wolves. It’s leagues superior to the similar “The Serpent and the Rainbow” (1988). The diabolic angle makes for some ugliness (e.g. death due to electric shock, suicides, grisly sacrifices, snakes and creepy arachnids), but there are rays of light as well. Sheen is outstanding as the protagonist while Shaver offers her wares to the table. The shocking spider sequence was later ripped off by "Urban Legends: Bloody Mary" (2005). The movie runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot in New York City & Toronto. GRADE: B-