The Believers

The Believers

1987

Director- John Schlesinger

Cast- Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Robert Loggia, Jimmy Smits, Richard Masur, Harley Cross

           

This is one of the few big budget Hollywood films of the 80s to tackle the subject of the occult. The Satanic Panic of the 1980's with tabloid stories of ritual abuses seemed to scare Hollywood away from the subject. While the low budget companies were still knocking out demonic horror, the big boys tended to steer clear. Technically, The Believers isn't about Satanism, but as it deals with religious cults, I think it qualifies.

Martin Sheen plays Cal, a therapist that counsels police officers. He is dealing with the death of his wife in a freak accident and trying to be a single father.  He is called in to assess detective Tom Lopez who seems to have lost his mind (played in an early role by Jimmy Smits). Lopez was investigating a child abduction and discovered a secret Santeria style cult and he is convinced that he will be their next victim. Lopez commits suicide, and Cal working with another detective (Robert Loggia) uncovers the cult and their reach eventually extends to kidnapping Cal's son.

            This cult is made up of New York’s upper crust and they have all sacrificed one of their children to their dark god in exchange for power. The cult enforcer is a mysterious man (Malick Bowens) who seems to have Jedi mind powers and can curse people in some pretty dramatic ways ( like a boil on their face popping and spiders crawling out!).

            Some are quick to point out that the movie paints an inaccurate picture of the Afro-Caribbean religion of Santeria, but the movie itself notes that the religion practiced by the cult is not Santeria but Brujeria (witchcraft).

            The film touches on the themes of faith (or lack of it) and its effect on religion and magic but never really explores this as well as it could have.  Predictable most of the time, it is saved by a few twists and a fine cast led by Sheen.

            Harley Cross, who plays Sheen’s son in the film, was also in the Álex de la Iglesia film, Perdita Durango. He is kidnapped in both films and I’m sure he has the singular honor of being the only actor kidnapped in two Santeria films!