Ticket to Heaven (1981) User Reviews

It should be titled HOW CULTS WORK FOR DUMMIES

[Gavno · 8/10 · 25 January 2005]

Tho on the surface it seems a bit dated, A TICKET TO HEAVEN is an offbeat, thoughtfully produced, and deeply absorbing tale about the religious cults of the 1970s. It shows in detail just HOW they work, and explains to us in step by step fashion just how rational, intelligent people, often with absolutely no interest whatever in religion, could wind up being recruited and converted to the unthinking followers of philosophies which, to outsiders, seem absolutely ridiculous.

The film is unique in that it also shows us one possible path back OUT of that jungle of conflicting ideas, tho the path chosen here is the most controversial of the possible choices. Unspoken, but always hovering over the action, are the issues of civil liberties and religious freedom. There's a LOT of heavy stuff going on here.

This film is a deep sleeper... a Canadian made gem that deserved much more attention than it got from US audiences.

Nick Mancuso plays David Capelle, a Toronto schoolteacher whose life is currently at loose ends after a painful breakup with his long time lover. He needs SOMETHING... ANYTHING... that will give back to his life the direction and stability that was lost.

On a vacation to California an old friend introduces him to a New Age religious group. From then on (and in an amazingly short time, just one weekend) David literally vanishes from his old life and the rest of the world, his every thought and action now dictated by the needs of his newfound "family". He has willingly given up his entire personality to the group-think of the movement.

David's sole link to his old life and the outside world is his friend Larry (Saul Rubenek), a Toronto accountant who aspires to stand up comedy. Larry's suspicions about occasional cryptic phone calls from David lead him to go to California to find out for himself just exactly what the hell is going on with David. After the group makes an attempt to recruit him too, Larry returns home to Toronto and sounds the alarm with David's friends and family.

After seeing the situation for themselves, David's family resorts to the most drastic action possible... kidnapping him from the group and using psychological deprogramming. This is probably the ONLY film or TV production that deals with this emotionally charged and legally sensitive topic truthfully, and in detail. It's electrifying!

There are standout performances here from the entire cast. Meg Foster as "Sister Ingrid", the leader of the local group, is intense and FRIGHTENING. She's a cold, calculating package of almost maniacal devotion to the movement. She gives an outstanding performance which, for me at least, was TOO good; in my mind she'll ALWAYS be "Sister Ingrid", no matter what role I see her in. Meg Foster is now typecast for me.

For sheer intensity tho, the grand prize goes to the Canadian actor R. H. Thompson. His portrayal as Linc Strunk, the deprogrammer that David's friends engage, is POWERFUL. Strunk is the mirror image of Sister Ingrid; he's just as cold, calculating, intelligent and determined as she is, but his mission is to convince David that the group's concepts are patently absurd, and at their base they're essentially an evil con game. Strunk's "In Your Face" confrontations with David are tense intellectual, theological, and philosophical battles of will that are absolutely riveting. Mancuso and Thompson give each other as good as they get from beginning to end.

The finished product here is at the same time chilling, disturbing and inspiring... and it provides an unsettling cautionary message for us all.

Very Good Movie

[fferkle · 7/10 · 22 January 2005]

This was an extremely accurate account of recruitment, indoctrination and life in a coercive religious group. It also accurately portrayed the lengths some go to rescue people from this type of group, the lengths some will go to stay in the group and the difficulty some people have breaking out.

In addition to an accurate portrayal of the subject matter, the film is very well made. Although I doubt it would be considered as "art", the film moves along very well, has a good plot, good acting, great dialog and the production values are very good. I did not view this film for entertainment, but rather because of the subject matter. I was pleasantly surprised that it was outstanding as dramatic film, as well as educational.

The bad side of religion

[imbluzclooby · 7/10 · 29 September 2016]

I really do enjoy this movie despite the fact that the first 30 minutes are nothing more than expository situation settings that establish our main character and the idiotic and repetitive motions of cult fanatics. Watching people sing, chant and behave like fools with reckless abandon gets tedious. But the film really tries hard to make its point abundantly clear. However, the acting is terrific and the plot is involving. I was just an adolescent when the cult phenomena was taking place with groups like the Hare Krishnas, Moonies, EST, and other offshoots of such fanatical dogma. I believe this was a result of the rebellious 1960's and the emergence of the Human development movement. This Canadian film makes its stance completely unbiased. It makes a scathing crack against such movements that use inhumane tactics of recruitment like brainwashing, starvation, sleep deprivation and totalitarian control. I am glad these organizations were brought to the public and have been given the criticism they deserve. They are dangerous and larcenous and should be treated with sharp caution.

It's pretty creepy to know that normally intelligent, responsible and upright citizens can succumb to such pressurizing practices. But they have.

A real "cult" film!

[Cobbler · 20 May 1999]

TICKET TO HEAVEN is dramatically effective, sociologically interesting, and thoroughly engaging. It has one of my favorite endings,which leaves the viewer with an intense sense of catharsis and relief. Great performances, especially by R.H. Thomson as the "deprogrammer"- what a classic character! This is an unsung sleeper which lends much insight into the world of cults and their effect on families-- track it down on video if you can!

good cult movie

[petersjoelen · 7/10 · 29 March 2021]

This is a descent cult movie but it could have been better , the end scene with the so called de programming is rushed and also the cult itself stays a bit shallow The transition from summer camp to cult is in my opinion to sudden .

I also compared this title to Split image with James Woods and that movie was better in the details and the psychological backstory .

Pretty Scary, Pretty Good

[alanfl1 · 7/10 · 1 August 2023]

I first came upon this movie in the 90s, somewhere in its middle. I was surprised and intrigued by the premise and the realistic feel of the film. Around thirty years later I watched it again, just this past weekend, from start to finish. It's obviously a TV movie, filmed in Canada on a small budget. It seems dated now, its execution somewhat amateurish and choppy, but it's still worth watching and has its memorable moments. Watching David's (Nick Mancuso's) brainwashing by the cult is chilling indeed. Particularly horrifying is the description of suicide-by-wrist-slashing delivered by actress Meg Foster in front of her audience of enrapt cultists. Overall it could have been better, but I still recommend it. It should probably be remade for today's audience.

Powerful, unforgettable

[Captain Ed · 10/10 · 31 May 2002]

It's been years since I've seen this film, but its images are burned into my mind. This is such a powerful movie that I would offer a caution to potential viewers -- the material is both gripping and frightening, and you'll never view certain 'organizations' as harmless ever again.

Nick Mancuso and R. H. Thompson both give the performances of their careers in this film, especially Mancuso. Unlike the rest of his work, he seems completely without self-consciousness here. Saul Rubinek also shines brilliantly. The two best performances may be Kim Cattrall and Meg Foster's, who give two different aspects of people who have lost their souls and who more than anyone else convey the danger facing Mancuso's character. Scariest moment in the film: Mancuso in a 'prayer meeting', thrusting his arms upward, shouting and staring with blank rage. You may even see some parallels in today's world in that scene.

Recommended in the strongest terms. 10/10

Clever, scary and important

[cdimdb · 9/10 · 6 January 2007]

This film should be required viewing for anyone who believes in Free Will, or that Individual Liberties are all that matters.

The most profound lesson for me is the clear message that NO-ONE, no matter how cynical and initially unsympathetic, would be able to resist the methods this group employs to suck in new inductees - provided only that they are unaware in advance of what is going on. The process is brilliant, diabolical and irresistible. The sleep deprivation, constant presence of others, constant barrage of reinforcing messages, powerful peer pressure and not a moment available to think - I don't believe anyone could resist. They simply wouldn't have the time to realise that they *want* to resist.

Of all these influences I find the character of Ruthie perhaps the most frightening and effective: cute as a button, shining with enthusiasm and energy, playful, flirtatious, controlling, prettily wheedling - and totally dedicated to bringing in new freshly-emptied heads for 'Father'. I fear for my gender, because for a certain age group of men, a smiling, cajoling Ruthie can get almost anything. Various fundamentalist groups have employed such 'flirty fishing' techniques with terrible effect.

This film blends its didactic message into a tense storyline with huge skill. It's helped, perhaps, by the fact that we want to see and understand the raw documentary details as much as we want the story to play out. I still think it's well done: we see the induction process operating successfully on a typical unarmed and unresisting victim in the form of David; and on a more resistant but still unarmed Larry. Only Larry's well-prepared rescuer (Eric?) is equipped to break free of the web.

The film benefited enormously from having a set of fine actors who have gone on to great things in the industry. I'll leave it to others better versed to explore the individual performances, but to me all the parts are handled skilfully and thoughtfully by competent actors. I was particularly affected by the frequent use of what I like to call 'face acting': flashes of CU and ECU in which an actor can reveal internal thoughts and struggles without clunky words. A tiny grin on the face of Linc Strunc when he sees a point hit home in David; the final darted glance by the rescued David at the Heavenly Children standing at their car - not fear, not triumph, but not conviction either. And Meg Foster, of course, whose mutant eyes make actual acting unnecessary.

Interestingly odd note: the scene in which an exhausted David falls asleep at the wheel of the van taking his companions home, and swerves off the highway into a ditch. In his mixed terror and relief at surviving the accident, the other members gather round, laughing and hugging him, without a hint of blame for having nearly killed them all. This was genuine and touching, but the open and loving camaraderie is also one of the chains that bind David to the group. Clever, I thought.

Perhaps the most significant question of the film - unstated and perhaps unintentional - is this: the Heavenly Children are a cult, and defined as such, so we may ignore their teachings and beliefs as mere fantasies with no basis. But what distinguishes a cult from other faith-based belief systems whose primary symbols are a deity, a messiah, and a Satan? Their wider acceptance? Whatever one's opinion about religion in all its forms, it certainly creates the mind-set and iconography in which cults have flourished throughout the centuries - sometimes going on to become the standard in their part of the world.

CD

This movie really has dated badly.

[MOscarbradley · 4/10 · 24 October 2019]

It's not terrible but it's not good either. "Ticket to Heaven" came out at a time when 'cults' were the new 'Big Thing' or maybe just the next Big Thing, a scary alternative to Hippiedom. It's the story of David, (handsome, vacant Nick Mancuso), who is sucked into one such cult but is then 'kidnapped' by his friends and family and deprogrammed. It's heart is obviously in the right place but the treatment is mediocre. As an 'anti-cult' movie it's no better than the kind of propoganda a cult itself might produce on the cheap, poorly written, directed and acted and in hindsight it's hard to believe that people actually took it seriously. These cultists are more like the Brady Bunch pretending to be the Adams Family.

Great movie based on true story of "Moonie" seduction of one man.

[freebird-10 · 9/10 · 2 September 2001]

This movie is one of my favorites. It really works through characters to show convincingly how people get caught in cults and how they get out--and it does it with a sense of grim humor, as well as without preaching, which raises it above TV-movie level. Nick Mancuso gives the best performance he's ever done, unfortunately for him, as a drifting, musclebound hunk who can't commit. Saul Rubinek is engaging as his pal who rescues him (you've got to see his stand-up routine that he does at the camp where recruits are taken, quite chilling). And you won't believe Kim Katrall as Ruthie, the chipper Moonie with the heart of stone. The soundtrack is also a star in itself, and I wish it were on recording!

Beware: This movie is disingenuous to people with religious beliefs.

[amdakpro · 5/10 · 9 February 2009]

Although well made, well acted and well produced, Ticket To Heaven is severely disingenuous to people of all faiths. All it does is reaffirm and propagate the misconception that religion in general is 'cult-ish' and 'out of touch'.

Produced under the guise of 'informing and protecting the public' from such anomalies, it only serves to show the ignorance of the movie makers and the public viewing it. Who really are the ones 'brainwashed'? The cultists, the filmmakers, or the viewing public?

The film's agenda is clear and severely lopsided - new religions are dangerous, their leaders are duplicitous, and their converts are duped and brainwashed. At the core of the argument, however, is one thing and one thing only - that age-old question - is there a God or not?

This movie magnifies the fact that some people wholeheartedly believe there is a God above, and that others of different political, religious and philosophical persuasions disagree so much they will go to the ends of the earth to convince others they are right and the cultists are wrong. Hmm. What ever happened to 'independent thinking' and making up ones own mind?

That said, Ticked To Heaven is still a good movie, although it depicts enthusiastic 'believers' as being socially 'dysfunctional', and shows the scope to which religious intolerance will go in order to destroy, not only one's belief in God, but the destruction of God Himself if they can.

A lost performance gem.

[Mattydee74 · 19 June 2001]

Nick Mancuso throws his all into the part of David, a young man seeking some meaning from his messy life who ends up bound tight in the web of a quasi-religious cult group. But he's got some big competition from co-star Saul Rubinek.

In the early eighties there were a couple of films fascinated by ideas of brainwashing, religious cults and deprogramming. Split Image is a companion piece to this film, which will interest many simply because of Kim Catrall's appearance as the obsessessed Ruthie, but which is even more notable I think for the strong friendship between Saul Rubinek's stand-up comedian character and the troubled protagonist, David. The film builds a poignant, revealing portrait of these two friends whose bond is crucial in determining both their futures. Rubinek is one of those instantly familiar faces whose performances in films like The Contender, Nixon, True Romance, and Dick conceal him in that strange underclass of actors - the supporting player (as opposed to the more showy supporting "Actor" parts claimed by brilliant die-hards like Dennis Hopper and Dianne Wiest.)

In this film, however, he shines and deserves to be seen in an excellently performed role. Mancuso similarly hasn't had much chance to fire like he does here (admittedly he wasn't the greatest Marquis De Sade in the film of the same name a couple of years back). His transformation here though is painful to watch but compelling and easy to empathise with as he struggles with notions of identity and truth.

If this film has any problem it is that the film is kind of tailored-for-effect a little too neatly like a tv movie, but it still manages to provoke some suspense thanks to the intensely credible performers.

An interesting lost gem of the early eighties.

"Wiggle your toes to say hello" ??!!!

[newdomani · 9/10 · 6 February 2007]

HEAR YE___ HEAR YE!!! (SHOUTING IN PASSIONATE APPEAL TO YOU)

I had to hold back my vomit several times throughout this film, but I kept it going and was relieved at the end.

Meg Foster captures the movie in her hand and was by far the most memorable character (in my opinion).

"Wiggle your toes to say hello" - what a twisted and frightening concept to impose on a grown adult... everything about this cult family is bizarre, disturbing, and realistically vile.

I hated the 'CULT family' even when it was trying to introduce itself as an innocent and friendly organization.

I was not pleased at all with the manner with which they were portraying their spontaneous and sassy personality. It was putrid from the start.

(I here shout out loud" the feelings that this film made me experience) _indulge me, please_

THIS FILM WILL DISTURB YOU, BUT THE LESSONS YOU LEARN FROM IT ARE WORTH 10 TIMES THE ANGER IT IMPOSES.

DO WATCH IT - BUT DON'T EAT ANYTHING FOR THE DURATION OF THE FILM... YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP IT DOWN.

• IT STINKS UP THE ROOM WITH MISGUIDED TRUTH IN IT'S BOLD ARROGANCE AND ITS TWISTING OF REALITY - but it truly makes a powerful point.

YOU MAY USE Ticket to Heaven IN THE FUTURE AS REFERENCEABLE AND OR QUOTABLE MATERIAL!!! Many viewers of this film may need to gather around a table and discuss it more just to settle the emotions it raises.

I give it a 9.9 out of 10 vote because I can't really say that I enjoyed it, but I did learn a life changing "safety message" that is worth almost it's full value in terror and horror.

A Chilling Look at One Man's Experience With a Cult

[ScottAmundsen · 10/10 · 14 June 2017]

This is an amazingly authentic film about a young man (Nick Mancuso) who becomes involved in a pseudo-religious cult.

Predictably enough, while there are religious-sounding songs all over the place (a version of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" comes to mind), there is very little mention of God for a group that considers itself a "church."

The story revolves around David, a teacher who, in the opening moments of the film, is already involved with the cult. He is sitting in the back of a van, counting the money with one of the other cult members.

There are references to a leader called "Father" who is obviously all too human. God is conspicuous by His absence and the cult seems to worship a family (of grifters, no doubt).

The group has a woman in charge: Ingrid (Meg Foster), who bears a creepy resemblance to Elizabeth Clare Prophet. She controls everybody and everything. Is the resemblance deliberate? I couldn't say, but it is unmistakable.

David's friends and family are desperate. Best friend Larry (Saul Rubinek) and girlfriend Sarah (Dixie Seatle), along with David's parents (Marcia Diamond and Paul Soles) join forces and bring in deprogrammer Linc Strunc (R H Thomson).

The deprogramming sequence is harrowing, and I won't bother with details. Suffice it to say that David is human again at the end of the film.

This is a truly amazing and shocking film. Truth lives in every frame.

Good movie!

[RodrigAndrisan · 8/10 · 17 October 2017]

I personally known people so-called "religious", false people, with a washed brain. They claim to serve God but, in fact, they want nothing but money. All the churches in the world which ask for money, do not serve God. Long story... The movie has a very good, real, real-life topic. It is very well played by all the actors, well directed, well filmed. I've seen Nick Mancuso, Saul Rubinek, Meg Foster, Kim Cattrall, in many other movies, but here I enjoyed their acting the most. I do not know to what extent, because of the generous scenario or because of their talent, probably from both causes.

One of two early '80s anti-cult "cult classics."

[lampmuz · 30 September 2003]

This 1981 film is supported by a great cast and film score. The careers of Rubinek, Cattrall and Mancuso were boosted by this excellent film. An anti-cult film, "Ticket To Heaven" (1981) shares a similar subject with "Split Image," released the following year. TTH, for me, is a much more entertaining and realistic film. Filled with dramatic moments and fine performances, it deals with the true story of a depressed young man drifting into the cult of Sun-Yung Moon. "Split Image" (1982) portrays the identity crisis of a young man seeking answers beyond the illusions of his own shallow life and those of his family and friends. His search leads him to a new-age cult, where he finds the leader and his goals to be more sinister and empty than the life he ran away from. Carried by the cast and a fine music score by Bill Conti, "Split Image" doesn't provide the realistic, powerful performances from the lead characters that make TTH the choice between the two. Both films communicate worthy messages and deserve a look. While many of life's questions can be answered by the Bible, proper spiritual guidance and direction is essential, particularly for those who are not mature enough to seek God on their own. At the time these films were released, cults were very active and predatory. Today's youth are more likely to drift into new-age or satanic cults than Christian ones or, perhaps more likely, choose a life that is without spiritual goals or substance. Both these films can help by providing some answers or by stimulating thought on subjects that might otherwise be avoided.

Very Accurate!! I was recruited by the Moonies in the same house on Nob Hill

[barrywasco · 10/10 · 28 April 2023]

I got chills when seeing this movie since it was actually shot at the place we were taken to; it is so authentic and captures the thrill and innocence of being drawn into the group mind-think. The experiences that my companion and I went through in 1978 are shown in the movie realistically.

When the buses arrived, we were eager to begin the adventure. Unsure if they were Moonies, I hesitantly asked. When I received no response, I pulled my companion's shirt collar in and quickly led him down the hill as they were shouting behind us.

This film gives us a peek of the outcomes for those who really went on the ride, and possibly a hint of what our fate might have been.

Terrific 'CANUCK' entry of early 80's on sensitive subject

[canuckteach · 9/10 · 22 August 2021]

My family loved this essentially Canadian production & we did one of those '3 movie plus a VCR' deals for 25$ to see it (VCRs were 600-1000$ to buy, can you believe it?). A lost young man (David, played by Mancuso) drifts into a S. Cal. Cult, and his friends track him down & try, at great risk, to help him escape.

R. H Thomson is memorable as Linc, the De-Programmer. ( In the book, the cultists, Moon's people, call Linc THE DEVIL. When David's friends open the motel door to admit him, they exclaim IT IS THE DEVIL!). Thomson is a little more under-stated (no eye-patch or towering presence(. He just says, I'm Linc-where is he?

Saul Rubinek (who later did do well as Niles' lawyer & Daphne's fiancé in FRASIER) shines as David-s friend, so desperate to help, that he almost gets pulled in.

If you don't like profanity, there are 2, and maybe rare examples of suitable (just so you know): a concerned fellow camp visitor tells Rubinek " FIRST THING--NO #;&:$ CO- OPERATION". Later, Linc, describing the Reverend's wealth, says YES, a !$@;& GUN FACTORY, (for emphasis, of course.).

8 or 9/10.. More docu-drama than entertainment . Loved it!

ONE OF THE TOP TEN

[parausted · 10/10 · 9 May 2021]

If you were to see only one movie in your life, this is the movie.

Interesting, important, intelligent argument. Superb performances. All put at the service of a human, moving, essential and necessary message.

In the tradition of "Elmer Gantry", "Inherit the Wind", "My Mother's Smile", "Häxan", this film must be in the list of the ten best films in the history of cinema.

A separate comment: this movie is 108 minutes long, but I saw this movie in 1990 and it was 90 minutes long, I've watched it again and it's 86 minutes long. Please watch it before the censors keep cutting it.

A taut, gripping film

[SgtSchultz00 · 2 November 2011]

Based on the non-fiction book "Moonwebs" by Josh Freed, "Ticket to Heaven" is a gripping thriller about an unsuspecting young man who gets sucked into a "religious" cult, obviously the Unification Church (though not explicitly mentioned in the film).

There's very little time wasted with extraneous or slow scenes...hence you quickly feel the sense of foreboding as David first comes in contact with them and eventually is taken under their spell. The methods outlined in the film are truly insidious.

Great acting abounds, and most of the cast has gone on to have very successful acting careers (click on the links of the cast). An added surprise is a very young Kim Cattrall, who actually acts in this film, versus the vamping character for which she later become so well known.

There's a great laugh in the credits at the end, when they use the usual legal disclaimer that says "all events and persons in the film are fictitious". If only!

Sleeper film is quite effective

[hawktwo · 1 March 2001]

I tuned into this movie on Bravo one night because of Meg Foster. Ever since seeing her in a movie called "Sunshine" I've been fascinated by her eyes. They seem to sparkle.

I stayed to watch this movie because of the storyline and the acting. Nick Mancuso as David effectively transformed from a macho guy dumping a girl friend to a wimpering dependent cult member.

Saul Rubinek is wonderful as his best friend who can't quite give up on him. I felt that Linc Strunc was played as a stereotype, but that really doesn't take away from the film.

INTERESTING

[lthseldy1 · 4 June 2000]

This movie is about a normal, everyday man who all the sudden gets caught up in some strange cult after problems occur in his personal life. At first, the man finds the cult very disturbing and hard to adjust with. But as time goes on, he feels that he can trust the cult members enough to stay with them permanatly. Later on, the man has some friends that find out where he has been and look into the cult and find out what it is all about and go to search for their friend and bring him back to reality. It becomes very difficult to lure the man back because by the time his friends capture him, he is already brainwashed and refuses to stay with his friends. The movie then becomes a cat and mouse chase as to whether the man will stay with the cult and remain brainwashed or come back with his friends and face reality. I enjoyed this movie for it's dramatic roles in the characters and well as a good plot and story line. I give it a 6.5.