Bloodtype Online

   

      Although his first film could have been labeled a cult film, his second movie is definitely a cult affair. This time around he co-wrote (along with three other writers) and directed “Believers”, a film about a scientific cult called the Quanta Group that consists of successful scientist, mathematicians, philosophers and even a filthy mechanic. They are a tightly knit group that believes the world is coming to an end and eventually plan to exit earth in a deadly manner to avoid a disaster they are aware of but the rest of the outside world doesn’t have a clue about. 

      A soon to be father Dave and his paramedic partner Victor go on a routine call to help a woman after her daughter called 911. When they show up on scene they make some progress until a group strapped with shotguns rolls up and kidnaps the paramedics along with the mother and daughter. The mother and daughter were actually part of this cult but they tried to escape to no avail. From here Dave and Victor are mixed up with some freaks that would make David Koresh look normal. 

      Johnny Messner does a great job in this film as Dave. His character is simple to empathize with because he is a regular joe and a good husband just doing his job on the day he found out he is having a boy with his wife. He puts up a fight and has to keep Victor in good spirits while they’re confined in a bathroom stall/ prison cell the cult deems the reflection room. Victor is shot and confused and eventually starts to believe the cult’s bullshit. He has good reason because the cult knows so much stuff about him and he gets seduced my the brought back to life lady that flat lined at the scene of the ambulance call. Victor and Dave are late recruits of sorts that the cult is trying to sell. Time is running out and Dave is definitely never in line with these freaks that rival any religious freak that ever showed up on my doorstep. While they are away their shift leader begins to look for them but their tough to find. Their in an isolated compound that is monitored day and night. 

      The film is an easy watch but quite predictable. The Quanta group lead by the nerdy IO (Eric Passoja) and The Teacher (Daniel Benzali) whose only objective is to take their followers along with them to the new world. Are they suicide enthusiasts or do they truly know that there is a safer place for them while the world will unknowingly come crashing down on the rest of the world? Or are they nutcases in professional outfits? The answer is yes to one of these questions and I wasn’t uninterested during the 103 minutes that could have been trimmed 15 minutes for pacing reasons. Sitting through 10 minute long psychobabble kind of pushed the story in my face instead of moving it along. Formulas, keys to life, premonitions and lots of Charlie Manson with a degree in science type dialog is to be expected! While being weird it was easy to follow without Daniel Myrick showing off his directing skills. The movie is more psychological than violent but has a lot of intensity when Johnny Messner is dropping F- Bombs like Scarface. 

      I enjoyed the ending and to avoid spoiling I won’t mention if it’s upbeat or downbeat. I feel “Believers” is the best film Warner Bros. Raw Feed has put out to date but that’s an easy feat being that the other two films they released are “Rest Stop” and “Sublime”. Still I believe that despite its low budget it still looked like a professional film without noticeable flaws and was original. I at least recommend a rental but if you like end of the world disaster films and psychological horror you might want to pick this up. For me it’s an average flick with some tension that wasn’t like a film I’ve seen this year. I won’t put this anywhere near the classic category but I survived this film without many complaints. 

** 

-Russ Rutter

Clips from the movie are below