USA, 1987
114m
35mm film, colour, 1.85:1
Dolby Stereo, English
An American horror film directed by John Schlesinger.
Plot Summary
After his wife dies, police psychiatrist Cal Jamison moves to New York and starts investigating the murder of two young men, apparently immolated during a ritual. Jamison finds himself drawn deeper into a voodoo underworld that requires him to sacrifice his own son.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: John Schlesinger
© 1987 Orion Pictures Corporation
An Orion Pictures release. A John Schlesinger film. A Beverly Camhe, Michael Childers production
Executive Producer: Edward Teets
Produced by: John Schlesinger, Michael Childers, Beverly Camhe
Associate Producer: Mark Frost
Screenplay by: Mark Frost
Based on the Book “The Religion” by: Nicholas Conde
Director of Photography: Robby Müller
Editor: Peter Honess
Music: J. Peter Robinson
Sound Mixer (New York): Todd Maitland
Sound Mixer (Canada): Bryan Day
Costume Design: Shay Cunliffe
Makeup (New York): Mickey Scott
Makeup Artist (Canada): Shonagh Jabour
Hairdresser (New York): Werner Scherer
Hairdresser (Canada): Ivan Lynch
Special Effects Makeup: Kevin Hayney
Special Effects (New York): Connie Brink
Special Effects (Canada): Ted Ross
Special Animal Creations (Canada): Eoin Sprott Ltd
Production Design: Simon Holland
Casting: Donna Isaacson, John Lyons
Cast
Martin Sheen (Cal Jamison)
Helen Shaver (Jessica Halliday)
Robert Loggia (Lieutenant Sean McTaggert)
Richard Masur (Marty Wertheimer)
Elizabeth Wilson (Kate Maslow)
Lee Richardson (Dennis Maslow)
Harris Yulin (Donald Calder)
Raul Davila (Sezine)
Malick Bowens (Palo)
Carla Pinza (Mrs Ruiz)
Jimmy Smits (Tom Lopez)
Harley Cross (Chris Jamison)
Janet-Laine Green (Lisa)
Larry Ramos (diner counterman)
Philip Corey, Jennifer Lee (Calder’s assistants)
Nonnie Griffin, Bob Clout (cigar couple)
Harvey Chao, Christine Pak (Chinese couple)
Joan Kaye (woman in park)
Eddie Jones (police patient)
John Bendel (theatre detective)
Alternative Titles
Den 7. magt – Denmark
Adoradores do Diabo – Brazil
The believers: I credenti del male – Italy
Los creyentes – Mexico, Spain
>Envoûtés – France
Les Envoûtés – Canada (French), France (DVD)
Fekete mágia – Hungary
A hívõk – Hungary
Mørkets makt – Norway
Pahan riivaamat – Finland (video)
Das Ritual – Germany, West Germany
Santaria: Makai onryô – Japan
La secta – Argentina (video)
A Seita do Mal – Portugal
De sju makterna – Sweden
Tarikat – Turkey
Vudu vernici – Serbia
Wyznawcy zła – Poland
Οι δαιμονισμένοι – Greece
Верующие – Soviet Union
Віра – Ukraine
Те, кто верит – Russia
サンタリア 魔界怨霊 – Japan
Links
Extracts included in
Trailer Trauma 3: 80s Horrorthon (2017)
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021)
References
Periodicals
- City Limits no.340 (7 April 1988) p.27
- Fangoria vol.7 no.65 (July 1987) p.10 – illustrated interview with Mark Frost (Monster Invasion by Roger Berrian)
- Fangoria vol.7 no.67 (September 1987) pp.34-35 – illustrated article (The Truth about The Believers by Ian Spelling)
- Le Film Français no.2110 (10 October 1986) p.10
- Films and Filming no.403 (April 1988) p.28
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.292 no.25 (17 June 1986) p.12
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.297 no.28 (8 June 1987) p.3,6
- The Listener vol.119 no.3057 (7 April 1988) p.37
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.55 no.651 (April 1988) p.105-106
- Screen International no.553 (21 June 1986) p.6
- Screen International no.647 (9 April 1988) p.16
- Time Out no.920 (6 April 1988) p.26
- Variety 10 June 1987 p.11
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror by Phil Hardy (ed.) p.413
- The Films of the Eighties by Robert A. Nowlan and Gwendolyn Wright Nowlan p.38 – credits, synopsis
- Horror and Science Fiction Films IV by Donald C. Willis p.38
- Horror Films of the 1980s by John Kenneth Muir pp.558-559 – credits, synopsis, review
