4 star harrowing horror/thriller.
The Sacrament is an American found footage horror, written and directed by prominent horror filmmaker Ti West (Pearl, X). Originally released in 2013, it is produced by Eli Roth (Hostel, Thanksgiving).
With a host of new special features, it will be available on Limited Edition and Standard Blu-ray from 24th June 2024, courtesy of Second Sight Films.
“Maybe New York’s made me soft, but these are the moments, every time we make one of these things, where I realise it might’ve been the worst idea ever.”
Sam Turner (AJ Bowen – You’re Next, The House of the Devil) and his friend and colleague Jake Williams (Joe Swanberg – There, Good Guy With a Gun) are the owners of a New York based independent international multimedia and news outlet called VICE. They pride themselves on their “Immersionism”, new-age journalism.
One day friend and fashion photographer Patrick (Kentucker Audley – Strawberry Mansion, American Woman) comes to them with a potential story. His sister Caroline (Amy Seimetz – Sweet Tooth (TV series), Pet Sematary) was at a sober retreat in Missouri, but has written to say that they have all left the country and invites him to visit. He will be taken to them by helicopter.
Finding it all very strange, Sam and Jake decide to go with him and film the whole situation. Things take a worrying turn almost immediately as they are greeted by armed guards at the gates of Eden Parish. Caroline negotiates their safe passage inside and arranges for them to interview Father (Gene Jones – The Hateful Eight, Flowers of the Killer Moon), the leader of the group, who seems reluctant and is excellent at avoiding questions. Everyone seems happy here, but what is really going on, and why are they so wary of the press?
“We’re hoping that he can find his sister and straighten all this out. If Patrick starts to get shot at, I’m going the f**k that way, as fast as possible.”
The Sacrament is a disturbing but very well done horror film. Those of us who have an interest in American history will no doubt see where this is going straight away (think Jonestown Massacre), but that in no way detracts from the impact when they get there.
The acting is superb, Gene Jones excels as the silky tongued but somehow still menacing leader, always something simmering just beneath the surface. The members of the commune also deserve mention for some eye watering death sequences. This is a found footage film, but because the character is actually a filmmaker, you don’t really get the expected head wobble until towards the end, by which point you probably don’t want to see what is happening in too much detail anyway.
It is properly disturbing in places, such horror taking place in such a tranquil location and the fact that we don’t even know where they are just adds to that. This is an excellent release and with lots of new special features, well worth adding to your collection.
“Let me see what I can do. I know you guys are Patrick’s friends and everything, but we’ve gotta be really careful about media exposure. None of this would be possible without some level of secrecy.”
The Sacrament is available on Limited Edition and Standard Edition Blu-ray from 24th June 2024.
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: 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
- Six collectors’ art cards
| Director | Ti West |
| Genre | Horror, thriller |
| Starring | Joe Swanberg. AJ Bowen, Kentucker Audley, Gene Jones |
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