The Sacrament Limited Edition Blu-ray (2013) Review
The Sacrament Limited Edition Blu-ray (2013) Review
A small news team, played by AJ Bowen (YOU’RE NEXT, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL), Joe Swanberg (YOU’RE NEXT, V/H/S) join a desperate man on a search for his missing sister (Amy Seimetz (STRANGER THINGS, PET SEMETARY). After a tip off, the group travels to Eden Parish and the documentary filming begins…But when they arrive at the supposedly peaceful sanctuary, it soon becomes clear that this isn’t the remote paradise they’d been looking for.
Greeted by armed guards, the crew start to question what they have walked into. Word reaches them that they must meet the leader of the seemingly joyful community. When they enter the parish and are brought in front of ‘Father’ things soon take a terrifying turn. As their worst nightmare becomes all too real, will they make it out alive?
Found-footage horror THE SACREMENT, written and directed by Ti West, saw the director take a break away from the supernatural thrills of both his THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL and THE INNKEEPERS. Instead, West took inspiration from the real-life events of 1978’s Jonestown Massacre and in doing so crafted a flick that builds and intensifies the unease right from the very start and up to and including a very distressing climax.
Having seen THE SACREMENT back at the time of its original retail release I knew exactly what to expect and knowing what was coming made me want to switch off and stop watching rather than endure the very same emotional and visceral reaction that I had before. It gets under your skin in the most unpleasant of ways. A.J. Bowen, as reporter Sam, proves yet again that he is one of the better genre actors and it would be great to see him in something else soon. However, and as good as everyone else is, it is Gene Jones who steals the show as ‘Father’ cranking the fear actor up to eleven with a truly dread-inducing performance.
Special Features
Indie Guys at Heart: A new interview with Actor AJ Bowen
The Best Pathway: A new interview with Actor Joe Swanberg
An Ecstatic State: A new interview with Actor Amy Seimetz
The Itch to Act: A new interview with Actor Gene Jones
A Wild Ride: A new interview with Producer Peter Phok
Truthiness: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on The Sacrament
We’re Not Sinners Here: The Making of The Sacrament
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Chris Malbon
70-page book with new essays by Anton Bitel, Kat Hughes, Rich Johnson, and Beth Kelly
6 collectors’ art cards
