Believers (2007)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

It is a bit slow but the ending does make you stop & wonder about some of these doomsday cults. I like John Messner in comedies rather than dramas but he did a good job in his role. Didn't quite like the role of Vic. I thought he "turned" too easily considering all the dialogue in their captive stalls. I did catch one blooper. Towards the end, when Dave refuses to join the cult, "the teacher's" henchman gives Dave a pill. The pill is a round white chalky pill. When Dave breaks free of the restraints & makes himself vomit, the close-up is of a yellow & blue gelcap. I didn't catch any other bloopers but I'm sure as with all films, there are a few more.

The Blair Witch Project director's thriller about two paramedics Dave and Vic (Johnny Messner and Jon Huertas) who are kidnapped by a strange cult named the Quanta Group. Led by a reclusive mastermind called The Teacher (Daniel Benzali), the cult believes they have condensed the secrets of time and the universe into a mathematical formula which proves the world is about to come to an end. The cult has no intentions of letting Dave and Vic leave, so they have to fight for their lives while trying to escape the remote compound.The film touches interesting themes, such as the relation between God and science and the differing religious opinions of the two protagonists, but unfortunately doesn't really get anything very exciting out of the subject matter. The nature of cult membership is left unexplored, so the cultists never come across as very fascinating characters and we are left with a standard survival thriller. Even though the film avoids overt violence and instead attempts to create a feel of claustrophobia by setting the events in an underground compound and having the characters spend a significant part of the running time locked in toilet stalls, the atmosphere is nothing that hasn't been done much better in many other movies already. I would only recommend the movie to the biggest thriller fans and perhaps to those interested in mathematical mysticism.

After watching Myrick's "The Objective", I wanted to check out his other films that went straight to DVD and this was my first pick. The premise is interesting, two paramedics are "abducted" into a suicide cult of sorts and must get away before it's too late for them.There's a layer of religion (also seen in movies like "Frailty") that is really the crux of the movie - which makes us question the true motives behind religious preachers, missionaries and insane cults, as well as presenting us with an atheist point of view. The ending is the movie's strongest point, and it again poses the viewers with an important question. Myrick seems to like to ask more question than answers in his movies and "Believers" is no exception. This is a low-budget flick best seen with low expectations.5/10

Two paramedics, David (Johnny Messner) and Victor (Jon Huertas) received a emergency call to help a mysterious woman (Deanna Russo) and her daughter Libby (Saige Ryan Campbell) in a deserted area outside from a gas station. Once they arrived, they tired to save this woman until a bizarre group of people arrived with a truck. They find themselves being kidnapped and bring them to a isolated building. The two paramedics finds out, they have been kidnapped by the Quanta Group. Which this group are actually a strange group of cults. Which they are composed by Scientist, Philosophers and Mathematicians. Which is controlled by a man, who called himself "The Teacher" (Daniel Benzali). But David and Victor learns by the Quanta Group truly believes the end of the world is coming soon and they are preparing a mass suicide. While Victor is been seduced by this group. David tries to escape to from this cult with the help of Libby and saves his friend before it's too late.Directed by Daniel Myrick (Co-director of "The Blair Witch Project") made an fascinating, clever, low-budget thriller with hints of horror and science-fiction. Myrick certainly handles well the low-budget of the movie by giving good performances from his cast, creating genuine suspense and an creepy atmosphere in the story. For a Direct to DVD project, this has good qualities. The director certainly shows a lot of talent behind the camera. But the film does it's usual share of flaws, especially during the third act but Myrick certainly does take his time by making the movie works. I think, the viewers will find themselves intrigue by the premise and they also will be modestly entertained by the picture. It's certainly worth seeing. (*** ½/*****).