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The Believers

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6.0/10 • 164

1987-06-091h 54m

HorrorMysteryThriller

Nothing can stop them, no one can help you. They know who you are.

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.

Directors
John Schlesinger
Editors
Peter Honess

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Martin Sheen

    Martin Sheen

    Cal Jamison

  2. Helen Shaver

    Helen Shaver

    Jessica Halliday

  3. Harley Cross

    Harley Cross

    Chris Jamison

  4. Robert Loggia

    Robert Loggia

    Lt. Sean McTaggert

  5. Elizabeth Wilson

    Elizabeth Wilson

    Kate Maslow

  6. Harris Yulin

    Harris Yulin

    Robert Calder

  7. Lee Richardson

    Lee Richardson

    Dennis Maslow

  8. Richard Masur

    Richard Masur

    Marty Wertheimer

  9. Carla Pinza

    Carla Pinza

    Carmen Ruiz

Reviews1

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Wuchak Avatar

Wuchak

Aug 9, 2019

6/10

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-

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  • The Believers poster
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  • The Believers poster
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  • The Believers poster
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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$13,000,000.00
Revenue
$18,753,438.00
Keywords
new york cityritualgunvoodoobarncultcigar smokingdeathritual murderritual sacrificesuicide by copvoodoo ritualprosperitydance ritualafrican deitiessanteríasuicide by gunchild sacrifice