"Believer" (Brainstorm Media)
Cult leaders have long been a subject of study on college campuses worldwide. In Sheldon Wilson's engaging thriller "Believer", a young writer, played by Ella Ballentine, finds herself entangled in more than she bargained for when she attends the court case of a ruthless killer. Ballentine delivers a powerful performance as Kate, complemented by Kris Holden-Ried’s mesmerizing portrayal of the enigmatic cult leader, Marshall Grayson. While the narrative primarily revolves around the case, *Believer* truly explores themes of family bonds and trust, as Kate looks to her family for answers from that fateful day.
The film immerses the viewer in the Moore household, where Kate is under the guardianship of the Moores. Their daughter, Ella, played by Ilan O'Driscoll, plays a crucial role in keeping Kate's mind at ease. "Believer" employs a fragmented narrative, shifting between the court case, scattered memories, and terrifying nightmares that feel all too real. O'Driscoll’s portrayal of Ella offers a sisterly love and affection that is both genuine and heartwarming. At times, the film teeters on the edge of a family drama, revealing as many questions about the Moores' relationship with Kate as it does about the central mystery—enough to potentially warrant its own feature.
However, where "Believer" excels in drama, it falls short in delivering scares. The focus on dissecting Holden-Ried's character detracts from the momentum of the horror elements, preventing the film from truly unsettling its audience. "Believer" feels more like a dark detective series, which might be a better fit for its tone if ever adapted into that format. Although the film intensifies and becomes more brutal towards the end, it feels like too little, too late to fully redeem the tension that was lacking earlier.
"Believer" is a "couch horror" film—filled with enough twists and turns to satisfy any movie night group with a taste for mystery and the occult. However, once the credits roll, viewers may realize they've just watched more of a family drama about helping a young woman overcome nightmares, rather than a truly chilling horror film. It’s a candid exploration of cults and serial killers, but it mostly offers what we've come to expect from any top-notch crime drama series in the last decade.
Rating: 2.5/5
Believer
Directed by Sheldon Wilson
Cast: Lauren Lee Smith, Ella Ballentine, Peter Mooney, Martin Roach, Ilan O’Driscoll, Jonathan Potts, Kris Holden-Ried
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