Savage Messiah (2002)
Savage Messiah is a docudrama about Roch "Moïse" Thériault, the charismatic former leader of a small religious group based near Burnt River, Ontario, Canada. Between 1977 and 1989 he held sway over as many as 12 adults and 26 children. He used all of the nine women as concubines, and probably fathered most of the children in the group. During his reign, Thériault mutilated several members. His major crime was to kill Solange Boilard, his legal wife, by disembowelment while trying to perform surgery on her. He was arrested for assault in 1989, and convicted of murder in 1993. Along with Clifford Olsen and Paul Bernardo, Thériault is considered one of Canada's most notorious criminals.
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Purely Joyful Movie!
Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
Although I have yet to view this movie, the comments tell me that it is a "must see". I am a writer in the horror genre, and, in order to write horror I must research for my works. In my personal opinion, Charles Manson, whom I've read about in many books and have seen the movie Helter Skelter, is an altar boy in comparison with many of the serial killers who have come and gone. This Roch Thériault seems like the person that Manson wanted to be but didn't have the cajones to be. Alain Légère aka the Terror of Miramichi is another Canadian serial killer that makes Manson seem like a boy scout. I will have to rent this movie to get a better understanding of Roch Thériault - the man.
Ed Gein is still the first,but this is the best so far.In this unheard story about the Manson family.A small town investigator is destined to find out the truth to this so called friendily Moise.But what she will find out is more than what she bargen for.Not only will she reveal the truth,but also the dangers of his wives and several children.Are you sure you what to see the truth of the man they call Moise.A breathtaking film and performance by everybody on this film.
Canadian films are often lambasted for being arty and full of weird sex. This has been perpetrated from the likes of Atom Egoyan films. Savage Messiah does not stray from this, but it walks the line in an honest way, that is very creepy. The cinematography looks like it was shot for nothing, as it most likely was. The performances, however, almost make you forget that sloppy camera work. Few films can really creep out my media-jaded generation, but this one certainly got through to me. I will not be able to forget it. This film makes up for a lot of Canadian films that have lacked the balls to really send a message. Good on ya.
This movie touched me very deeply. Without no doubts the best performance from Luc Picard. I really think that he deserves a Jutra for that part; he really was."The Savage Messiah" for me; the kind of man you would be afraid of.Thanks Luc. Nine out of ten.