The Believers *** (1987, Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Harley Cross) – Classic Movie Review 9421

Martin Sheen leads British director John Schlesinger’s vibrant, chilling 1987 American occult horror thriller The Believers about a police psychiatrist widower Cal Jamison (Sheen) and his son Chris (Harley Cross) who get scarily involved with a cult religion that believes in the sacrifice of children.

This is a snappily told, suspenseful, eerie story that is very well acted, especially by Sheen, Cross, Helen Shaver, Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Wilson, Harris Yulin, Lee Richardson, Jimmy Smits and Richard Masur. But it is Schlesinger’s menacing New York visuals, captured in ace cinematographer Robby Müller’s canny lenses, which give the film style and edge.

The screenplay by Mark Frost is taken from Nicholas Conde’s book The Religion.

Also in the cast are Carla Pinza, Raúl Dávila, Malick Bowens, Janet-Laine Green, Larry Ramos, Philip Corey, Jennifer Lee and Nonnie Griffin.

The Believers is directed by John Schlesinger, runs 114 minutes, is made by Orion Pictures, is released by Orion Pictures (1987) (US) and Rank Film Distributors (1987) (UK), is written by Mark Frost, based on Nicholas Conde’s book The Religion, is shot by Robby Müller, is produced by John Schlesinger, Michael Childers and Beverly Camhe, is scored by J Peter Robinson, and is designed by Simon Holland.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9421

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