Ticket to Heavenis a 1981 Canadiandrama filmdirected byRalph L. Thomasand starringNick Mancuso,Saul Rubinek,Meg Foster,Kim Cattrall,andR.H. Thomson.The plot concerns the recruiting of a man into a group portrayed to be areligious cult,and his life in the group until forcibly extracted by his family and friends. The film is based on thenonfictionbookMoonwebsbyJosh Freed.
| Ticket to Heaven | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Ralph L. Thomas |
| Written by | Josh Freed Anne Cameron Ralph L. Thomas |
| Produced by | Alan Simmonds Vivienne Leebosh Ronald Cohen |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Richard Leiterman |
| Edited by | Ron Wisman |
| Music by | Micky Erbe Maribeth Solomon |
| Distributed by | Miracle Films Ltd (Canada),United Artists(US and other nations) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Budget | C$4,500,000[1] |
Plot
editFollowing a relationship breakup, David Kappel, a twentysomething school teacher, visits what turns out to be a training camp for areligious cult.At the camp, everything is done in groups, including chanting and singing. There is also alow-calorie,low-protein diet;sleep deprivation;and constantpositive reinforcement.[2]
All of the elements of the camp begin to have an effect on David mentally. He graduates and is put to work as a volunteer laborer for the cult. In an especially powerful scene, he vomits up ahamburgerandmilkshakewhich he had just eaten in violation of cult dietary guidelines.[3]
David sets out to work, led by cult leader Patrick. David is shocked when Patrick lies to a customer, but Patrick explains that they are only "using Satan's methods to do God's work", and that it is okay because "it's only Satan's money we're taking."[3]
David's best friend Larry and his parents, Morley and Esther, are concerned about him. Larry visits the cult's camp and almost falls under their influence as well. He escapes with the help of Eric, a fellow camp attendee who befriends him. The latter reveals he has been visiting various cult camps, trying to find his sister. Once free, Larry returns home.
David's parents, Larry, Eric, and some other friends forcibly kidnap David, bringing him to a private home in the area and enlisting the aid of a cultdeprogrammer,Linc Strunk, to help him regain his normal mindset. After some struggle, David slowly comes to recognize the cult's dishonesty and mistreatment. He is confused and when he asks about "true love", he is told that he only needs to look around him: at Larry, his brother Danny, Sarah, his parents, and everything they've done for him, and still are enduring for him. Crying, he embraces them all. Everyone reunites and embraces outside the deprogramming house, while several cult members watch from a distance.
Cast
edit- Nick Mancusoas David Kappel
- Saul Rubinekas Larry
- Meg Fosteras Ingrid
- Kim Cattrallas Ruthie
- R.H. Thomsonas Linc Struc
- Jennifer Daleas Lisa
- Guy Boydas Eric
- Dixie Seatleas Sarah
- Paul Solesas Morley Kappel
- Harvey Atkinas Mr. Stone
- Robert Joyas Patrick
- Timothy Webberas Greg
- Marcia Diamondas Esther Kappel
- Michael Zelnikeras Danny
- Christopher Brittonas Simon
- Claire Pimparéas Sharing Group Member
- Josh Freedas Sharing Group Member
- Michael Wincottas Gerry
- Charles Grayas Musician
Reception
editCritical response
editThe film was selected as one of the top ten films of 1981 by theNational Board of Review of Motion Pictures.[citation needed]Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars, but added that the ending was less interesting and powerful than the earlier cult indoctrination scenes.[2]Janet Maslin ofThe New York Timescalled it "an absorbing, frightening, entirely believable movie, which is particularly amazing in view of its subject matter."[3]
On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 78%, based on reviews from 9 critics.[4]
Accolades
editTicket to Heavenwas nominated for fourteen 1982Genie Awards,and won four:
See also
edit
References
edit- ^Staff."Box office business for Ticket to Heaven (1981)".IMDb.Retrieved2007-11-23.
- ^abEbert, Roger (January 1, 1981)."Ticket to Heaven, Review".Chicago Sun-Times.rogerebert.suntimes.com.Retrieved2007-11-23.
- ^abcMaslin, Janet (November 13, 1981)."'Ticket to Heaven,' A Sleeper About Cults ".The New York Times.Retrieved2009-12-12.
- ^"Ticket to Heaven".Rotten Tomatoes.