The Samaritans (2017) Poster

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4/10
Ugh....
stevecraig-2806421 July 2019
It was not okay. It's boring. Slow to develop and not scary
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4/10
For the folks that rated this 10 Stars,
stevecraig-2806421 July 2019
I must have watched a different movie on an 8-track cassette in a galaxy far away. Ugh
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4/10
It was okay
kathyd7773 June 2019
Oy.... well i watched it til the end so can't rate it a complete dud. Some of the acting was stiff... more like pretending than acting. The story line was interesting and held promise but didn't unfold well.
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1/10
10 Star Reviews must be fake
ALH7515 May 2019
I rented this movie based on the multiple 10 star and other positive reviews here on IMDB.

10 minutes into the movie, I thought I must have made a mistake and either rented the wrong movie or read the wrong reviews. Turns out I did not.

I created an IMDB account so that I could review this movie. There is NO WAY that the people that gave this movie 10 stars aren't associated with it in some way. I suggest to not spend money or time on this movie, it is one of the worst - in terms of script, acting and production - that I've ever seen.
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2/10
Discount the 10/10 reviews
craig_rea8020 June 2019
Like another reviewer stated, those 10/10 reviews can't be by anyone except people affiliated with the movie itself. Literally no-one in their right mind would rate this as more than a 6/10 - and that's fine, director and crew; you had a tiny budget, a tiny on-location set, and four actors. 6/10 should be a compliment to you.

Now, here is the reality: none of the actors are particularly skilled; they do try, though, and you can tell that a couple of them gave it everything they had. They're just not good at their craft... yet. If they continue to persevere and commit to their roles for the next few years, who knows? Maybe they'll become somewhat decent actors. In this film, however, no-one is convincing at any point. That is, in part, due to the below average script, and the ridiculously repetitive nature of the story.

In a way, it's very hard to blame the actors for their performances as, IMHO, it would take an actor of considerable skill to be consistently believable in a project like this. Well, this specific project, anyway. I mean the story could be described as 'original', if not, 'unusual'. But it's just so repetitive. The action is just repeated over and over, and it doesn't make sense that the characters seem clueless as to what's going on for so long. The details are so specific you're just flummoxed as to why they all seem to be either nonchalant, disbelieving, or confused for SUCH a long time.

Look, I sat through the whole thing, and while I didn't enjoy it, there's something to be said for my perseverance.

The honest truth is that this is poorly acted (but not badly acted), poorly written, adequately filmed and edited, and has a somewhat different concept.

I can't recommend it, you'll most probably be bored or frustrated, or both, but it's not horrible. It is not, however, unless you were involved in the production, EVER going to be close to a 10/10. That's where you made your mistake, director/producer/actors, if you'd have given it a 6 or, at a stretch, 7/10, you might have gotten away with it. As it is, you stand out like a sore thumb, and your attempt to dupe people into watching your film removes any respect I might have had for you.
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1/10
Stupid
africe22 December 2019
Stupid waste of time. Acting was subpar and the whole film was annoying. The end was the most idiotic of all. Don't stay in films....all of you!!!
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1/10
So dumb
amymay-6991626 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
4 strangers who watched others die and never lift a finger are tormented by the dead. There,I saved you 1.5 hours. 4 digital spin the bottle app makers somehow each watched a person who lived in the town die, spirits get revenge. Kinda decent acting, but everything else sucked. Pace was slow, as where the characters to catch on to what was unfolding,even though the details were pretty specific. Guy gropes gal for three seconds under said demonic possession,is never allowed to forget it for the rest of the movie. Girl crushes guy's twig and berries under same demonic possession,he laughs it off and she never apologizes. Everyone thankfully dies. The end.
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10/10
Impressive horror/thriller that just kept getting better and better!!
jmchenry-5247626 April 2019
This movie showcased some impressive acting that kept you glued to your seat. Eddie brought a few good one liners to pull some chuckles from the audience. As the bottle turned all four characters shined as the inner demons awoke. The story is intense and the writing is complex.... gotta pay attention. Good job!
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10/10
Hidden Gem
miaheim-553101 May 2019
The movie you never heard about but SHOULD talk about! 10/10 stars
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7/10
A tense and taut independent horror
eddie_baggins8 April 2019
Filmed over a mere 4 days with 6 people lending a hand, utilizing one set and uncovering much of its tension and nerve shredding through dialogue and performance, The Samaritans is a low-key/high concept horror that proves all you need to make a proficient feature is the right attitude, commitment and endeavor.

A small independent offering directed by the hard-working Doug Bollinger, that follows on from his recent efforts such as Gravedigger and Rock, Paper, Scissors, Samaritans sees Bollinger and his regular partner in crime writer/actor Keith Collins come up with a devious game of cat and mouse, that see's four APP developers trapped in a basement with a demonic presence, as a game of spin the bottle takes a potentially deadly turn.

It's a unique set-up and one that's clearly plotted out by Bollinger and Collins, who also take on acting duties as lead male performers Eddie and Frank respectively and as the story begins to unfold of these seemingly innocent everyday people, you'll be frequently surprised by where things take you along the twisty and turning narrative arc.

Most impressively for a film shot over such a brief period, Samaritans features an extremely on point cast with Bollinger and Collins joined by the equally game and up for the challenge Timothy Laurel Harrison and Annelise Nielsen who give it their all to round out the four person cast.

It's a great showcase for all performers and one that suggests they all deserve greater opportunities moving forward, with a large portion of independent films and in particular low-key horror offerings suffering from poor casting, the Samaritans bypasses this regular flaw thanks to the proficient acting turns that keep you engaged throughout.

With proceedings playing out solidly thanks to this, you get the feeling that The Samaritans simple yet gleefully playful set-up is the perfect type of material for a future incarnation as a stage-play, sharing the similarities found in many plays with small casts and singular locations, although its more exciting to think about where the partnership between Bollinger and Collins may move to as their working collaborations grow and prosper into the future, regardless of genre.

Final Say -

Overcoming its low-budget roots and staying clear of many of the downfalls of similar projects, The Samaritans is a smartly constructed and well put together horror offering that should be sought out by genre aficionados ASAP.

3 ½ basements out of 5
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10/10
Loved this indie flick!
thesarahosman16 April 2019
Saw this film at a festival and had to get it to rewatch and share with friends!!! Such an awesome movie that keeps you glued to the screen throughout and perfect for a movie night! The cast is super talented and really carry this unique story- 10/10 would recommend to all suspense and thriller movie lovers!
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10/10
So good, I watched it twice!
bohemiansongstress22 April 2019
I'm the type of person who gets bored with a lot of films so for me to want to watch this film twice is a big deal! Very well written and directed. The acting is superb. A very high quality and entertaining film. Watching it a second time made it even better because I caught things the second time around that I missed. Loved watching everything unravel and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.
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10/10
Thrilling!
MNNFilms22 April 2019
Very good indie thriller. Fresh, unique & exhilarating. The story was on point and the acting was superb. I would def recommend this film if your into the indie thriller genre you won't be disappointed.
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10/10
Thrilling! Suspense filled! Overall Amazing!
sayiagirl16 June 2019
This movie is one of the best horror/suspense filled movies I've ever seen in my entire life! The film work and editing is superb! This is the kind of movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The special effects paired with each actors amazing talents is an award winning combo! So pop some popcorn and sit down for the rollercoaster that is The Samaritans!
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10/10
Phenomenal find!!!!
jscarpone-309641 May 2019
This movie is a hidden gem. For such a low budget movie it is incredibly well made and you can see the directors vision and it was totally jaw dropping! This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat and in constant suspense. This movie is so impressive and I 100% recommend it to anyone even if you don't specifically enjoy horror. This film should be appreciated in all the hard work obviously put into it. The vision and underlying themes are prominent and make you think. THIS FILM IS WORTH IT!!!!
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