Product Details

• Actors: Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Harley Cross, Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Wilson
• Directors: John Schlesinger
• Writers: Mark Frost, Nicholas Conde
• Producers: John Schlesinger, Beverly J. Camhe, Edward Teets, Mark Frost, Michael Childers
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: March 7, 2000
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305812071
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,739 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

John Schlesinger's The Believers, a kind of voodoo twist on Rosemary's Baby, is a horror movie where the echoes of otherworldly menace set the tone of terror, but the real evil comes from the hearts of humans. Recently widowed psychologist Martin Sheen moves to New York with his emotionally fragile son, and they become entwined in an underground cult that practices ritual sacrifice of children. Schlesinger is more interested in the human tale of loss and healing and the desperation of a grieving father fighting to protect his only child from a barbarous cabal. He favors mood and menace over spectacular splashes of horror, and even those moments of occult attack are directed with a sly sense of ambiguity. Though overlong and short on moments of genuine terror, this is a rare horror movie grounded in the palpable and powerful emotions of its characters. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Believable!!!, March 19, 2004

By 

"zoraidac" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Believers (DVD)

I loved this movie. I found it to be very well researched for it's content of Santeria and Brujeria. As someone who grew up around these religions I appreciated the authenticity. This was a scary, suspenseful and edge-of-your-seat, very well made movie.

It's like that saying, sometimes real life is scarier than fiction. Although, this is not one of those "based on a true story" type of movie, this movie was true to life in a lot of ways. Its' content reflected upon 2 very old religions that are very much alive and well in the U.S. and other parts of the world today.

Never underestimate the power of mind and intention (for good or bad) or the power of the universe.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I like it, I bought it, nuff said, June 14, 2000

By 

D. Christjohn (Rocklin, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Believers [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Believers has that strong voodoo/magic/power vibe that gets me everytime. In a normally hokey genre The Believers stands out for one reason...realism.

You might say to yourself, how can a film about cult ritualism have strong realism? Well let me tell you... the writers of this film definately did their homework and the philosophies, desires and methods of the "cult" in this movie are almost idential to groups that exist out there today.

The film is well acted, moves along at a good clip and is by no means predictable. If this brief snippet has peaked your interest I suggest a rental, some popcorn and a fun night at home with friends.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Freaky and full of fear film!, September 7, 2002

By 

ML (VA. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Believers (DVD)

This is a pretty scarey movie! The fact that it is a little old does not detract because this could happen anytime in any decade.

In a nutshell; A Father and his young son deal with shattering events in their lives and then are pulled into terrifying dangerous world of cults and ritualistic murder. Will they both come through all this alive?

More, if the above looks exciting:

The father is a police psychologist and there are some strange killings with horrible cult like killings. The father is deemed thru his job to frame a profile of this killer so that they can catch the killer.

As the movie moves forward, things begin to happen that keep you on the edge of your seat and delve you into the strange freakish world of cults and sacrificial killings. Soon this father and his son are pulled into the killer(s) world closer and closer and it will affect them both for the rest of their lives if they live through it!

Shocking surprise of an ending but I won't give any telling details of the movie away in case you want to see this and haven't yet seen the movie on cable or reg. tv. I would rent it before buying because it's a pretty disturbing movie but great if you like really freaky scarey movies.

If you liked Angel heart, you'll love this film. I liked it but it bothered me and I couldn't sleep well for several nights after seeing it the first time.