The Sacrament
Magnet Releasing | Release Date: June 6, 2014
5.9
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 30 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
10
Mixed:
19
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
4
hopefulcynicOct 4, 2014
Once again Ti West proves that he is a master of suspense, but a novice at deliverance. The first half of the movie is not bad. It kept me at the edge of my seat until it was time for Mr West to show us what he's got. Unfortunately he justOnce again Ti West proves that he is a master of suspense, but a novice at deliverance. The first half of the movie is not bad. It kept me at the edge of my seat until it was time for Mr West to show us what he's got. Unfortunately he just doesn't have it. Good build up to a let down. Very disappointing.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
5
WahlbergDec 3, 2014
What starts out as a promising look into a religious cult, quickly turns into a jumbled mess of incoherent storytelling, baffling motivations, and annoying camera work.

The problem is none of the characters are well rounded or definedWhat starts out as a promising look into a religious cult, quickly turns into a jumbled mess of incoherent storytelling, baffling motivations, and annoying camera work.

The problem is none of the characters are well rounded or defined beyond the absolute basics (and they do incredibly stupid things throughout the film, especially in the second half). So when things start going bad, it's hard to care. The film seems to want to offer a deep, nuanced look into the world of cults, but West doesn't seem to be able to paint anyone with more than a primary colored brush. Everyone is a caricature ...especially "Father", who is little more than a mouthpiece for religious mumbo jumbo.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
6
DirigiblePulpDec 30, 2014
It feels wrong to call this a waste of Ti West's talents, or at least the strengths he's shown so far as a director, but that's kind of how it feels. A good chunk of that is the found footage aspect, although admittedly it does lend itself toIt feels wrong to call this a waste of Ti West's talents, or at least the strengths he's shown so far as a director, but that's kind of how it feels. A good chunk of that is the found footage aspect, although admittedly it does lend itself to slow burns quite well (West's specialty), but still, it just feels so prosaic and derivative. Gene Jones is perfection but the rest is mostly just, well broadly anti-personal.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
0
CptKiffManJan 30, 2016
Horrible boring. Boring,boring,boring,boring,boring.boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring,boring.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
SpangleMar 3, 2016
I had no problem with the pace of The Sacrament and, in fact, Ti West does a good job setting a steady pace and really building tension. Heck, some sequences are truly unsettling and hard to watch. I even liked the found footage element ofI had no problem with the pace of The Sacrament and, in fact, Ti West does a good job setting a steady pace and really building tension. Heck, some sequences are truly unsettling and hard to watch. I even liked the found footage element of this one and I am typically lukewarm about it. That being said, The Sacrament lacks true scares and though it can create an unsettling atmosphere, it rarely delivers on this tension in the way it seemed to be trying to build up to. Thus, the lack of true scares holds this one back. That being said, it is well acted, well shot, and pretty well directed. The film feels authentic and that is what can really mess with you at times and it really fits into the documentary-style it is going for. That being said, The Sacrament is just not scary and though a compelling watch, do not expect to be scared by this one.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
horcrux2007Dec 27, 2014
This was a surprisingly good Netflix hidden gem. It's a very simple movie with lots of atmosphere and thrills, and cults just freak me out in general. Recommended if you have Netflix.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
GuillermoBMJan 20, 2016
Summary: Well-acted and intriguing, The Sacrament is definitely Ti West's least boring horror film to date. 73/100 [B]

I'm not a huge fan of Ti West's previous work and I was not interested at all in this film, also because the poster isSummary: Well-acted and intriguing, The Sacrament is definitely Ti West's least boring horror film to date. 73/100 [B]

I'm not a huge fan of Ti West's previous work and I was not interested at all in this film, also because the poster is kinda boring; but I like the cast so I decided to see it. It boasts a very talented cast that was also involved in the movie You're Next, such as: Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen and Amy Seimetz. The Sacrament left me very surprised and satisfied. In my opinion this is the first film directed by Ti West that is not boring. I enjoyed it so much, it is found-footage done well. In my opinion, The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers were two of the most boring horror films I've seen, of course they are good movies, but both of them have too many suspense and nothing interesting happens in 80% of their running time.

I've seen a lot of crappy found-footage movies this year and most of them sucked, such as: Alien Abduction, Delivery and Mr. Jones. Unlike them, The Sacrament is that rare found-footage film that succeeds. It has huge premise that is very well handled by this talented director. It's based on a true story called "The Jonestown Massacre" and that makes the film scarier. Of course it has some flaws especially in its second half, but the violence and the whole atmosphere of the film compensates for its flaws. I'm glad that I didn't know anything about this flick, I just pressed the play button without knowing anything about the plot and without watching the trailer, I recommend you to do the same.

The performances during the whole film were superb and believable; my favorite ones came from Gene Jones, AJ Bowen and the best one yet Amy Seimetz! There is actually a tense scene between two siblings, performed by Kentucker Audley and Amy Seimetz, it is one of my favorite scenes in the movie because it was shocking and realistic; the last 30 minutes are wickedly violent, without being too gory. I also like the production value, everything looks good and doesn't look cheap at all. One of the most notable things in The Sacrament is how mysterious and well developed were its characters. Also, "Father" performed by Gene Jones was annoying as hell but in a good way, he holds the greatest moments of the film.

It is thought-provoking at times, in its first half it makes you think about the way of how we live today's life with all those new technologies and stuff. I mean, it has some social commentary very well explained and all of this was quite interesting to me. I give it a 7/10 because it has some plot holes and the second half of the movie was kinda messy. Found-footage movies may be tiresome for some people but in this film this element is very well handled by West, and the presence of the camera is smart and has sense. The Sacrament is one of the best horror films of the year; it is not perfect at all but it shows the power of a leader and how far will he go. It takes to itself seriously and it is painful to watch at times. I really liked it, Ti West has a new fan. [B]… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
longjetty7Jan 4, 2016
The Sacrament was surprisingly good. This is the kind of thriller/horror movie I like: realistic, not over-the-top, and compelling. Some of the critics say the plot moved along too slowly, but as someone who has an extremely short attentionThe Sacrament was surprisingly good. This is the kind of thriller/horror movie I like: realistic, not over-the-top, and compelling. Some of the critics say the plot moved along too slowly, but as someone who has an extremely short attention span, I was actually thoroughly captivated by this movie. It was really interesting to watch the mystery of this cult unfold, and it seemed like they were first and foremost trying to tell a story rather than trying to shock you, which is much more important in my opinion. Also, for being an obviously low budget film, the production value was really good, and the acting was top notch. I legitimately thought this was a Vice documentary for the first 10 minutes!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
SolInvictaJun 8, 2016
A slow burning found-footage movie shot documentary style about an ominous reclusive religious group. It's predictable as all hell, but fans of lingering suspense and creepy cults will get exactly what they're looking for in The Sacrament.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
DerekBAug 22, 2015
While it has no real reason to be a found footage movie, The Sacrament tells a horrifying story based on true events. Knowing the story is based on true events only adds the to terror. The acting, visuals, and over all quality is amazing. TheWhile it has no real reason to be a found footage movie, The Sacrament tells a horrifying story based on true events. Knowing the story is based on true events only adds the to terror. The acting, visuals, and over all quality is amazing. The movie takes a bit of time to get going, but once it does you're in for a treat.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017
The plot of this film is more complex than it appears in the first place, its treatment is more disconcerting and does not lend itself to simple or conventional horror, so for people who enjoy simple horror this will not be a movie of theirThe plot of this film is more complex than it appears in the first place, its treatment is more disconcerting and does not lend itself to simple or conventional horror, so for people who enjoy simple horror this will not be a movie of their liking, but for those who appreciate the stories about cults and their ideologies this is an excellent option.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
JLauSep 12, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bit of artistic license taken with the Jonestown massacre story as it follows a couple of documentary creators helping a guy find his sister at the religious community before it all goes down.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
YeggoOct 4, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A fairly straightforward retelling of the Jonestown Massacre, presented as a found-footage VICE documentary. Pretty predictable once things get going, but elevated by two main factors:

1) Some nice set pieces, including a pretty innovative burn stunt and one of the better-acted poisoning deaths I've seen. (There are, unfortunately, dozens more poorly-acted ones)

2) Gene Jones! The Jim Jones type is played by the character actor known best (to me, at least) as the gas station attendant opposite Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. He was also "Sweet Dave" in Tarantino's Hateful Eight, and as usual, he's great. Threads the needle between sweet and sinister exactly right.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

49 Critic Reviews

5.9 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL