Pater Noster and the Mission of Light

Probably my favorite horror movie of the year. Low budget, but that doesn't detract from the effectiveness of the FX. In fact, the sticky quality of the blood is a nice throwback to the 70s and 80s genre flicks we all love. Predictable on occasion, but surprising where it counts. I mean, young people going to a remote location in the woods to meet with a cult leader? I wonder what will happen? Still, the specifics are fresh and the vinyl record take on the necronomicon trope is kind of inspired. Only reason it's not a 10 is that at times it tries to be gratuitous for the sake of being gratuitous and I didn't find that those couple scenes stuck the landing. Overall, a spectacularly fun movie!

The role I was born to play; a sloppy, chocoholic, who's soft spoken, and loves incredibly common records. I've thought Chris Bickel was a mad genius since I saw The Theta Girl and I've since gotten to work with him on this and Bad Girls. I have a slight bias because I like these people but I think that even without that I'd love this absolutely insane piece of art that an old punker made for the amount of money it would take to buy a certified pre-owned vehicle from a reputable dealership. Extremley proud to be part of this and hopefully the next one as well. Check this movie out if you like gross body horror, weird religious cult horror, cool cars, underground music, and collecting records.

Man, where do I even begin with Pater Noster and the Mission of Light? This isn't just a movie, it's a fever dream, a time machine made of celluloid catapulting you into the sun-drenched, acid-tinged haze of the '70s-only to drop you straight into the heart of unrelenting terror. It's raw, electric, and brimming with the kind of energy only the underground can conjure.

Max, our guide into this kaleidoscopic nightmare, is your every-kid-stacking vinyls in a dusty shop, looking for nothing more than the next song to stitch her life together. Then she stumbles upon it. The record. A black mirror that sings, pulling her into the grooves of a long-lost world-a commune promising love and light but delivering shadows and sacrifice.

The movie doesn't just tell you a story; it channels it. Shot for the price of a beat-up VW van, every frame feels gritty and raw, like it's been marinated in patchouli and fear. The cult's remnants-those wide-eyed, sunken-cheeked keepers of secrets better left buried-pull you in with their cracked smiles and promises of enlightenment. But you know better. You feel it. There's rot under the flowers, and it's spreading

This isn't a movie for everyone. It's messy, chaotic, and unpolished, like a poem scrawled on a napkin at 3 AM in some dive bar. But if you're the kind of person who gets it-who feels the call of the weird and the wild-it's a revelation.

So, roll the dice, press play, and dive in. Just don't expect to come out the same on the other side. Like the best of the underground, Pater Noster and the Mission of Light doesn't ask for your attention-it demands it, and once it's got you, it won't let go.

As a vinyl collector who also has more than a passing interest in cults, this indie horror flick sounded tailor made for me. I was not disappointed. It was obviously written by someone who is well versed in both obsessive music collection and religious cults. While it does suffer a little from some of the typical issues present in many low budget efforts (some of the acting and dialog could be a little stronger), it more than makes up for it with its ambitious scope and the gonzo nature of the final act. Gorehounds will not be disappointed, the practical effects are well done and plentiful. The catchy and authentic sounding cult tunes didn't hurt either. I liked it so much after watching it streaming online that I bought the Blu Ray.

I had no involvement in the making of this film and did not even contribute to the crowdfunding campaign. I just read some other good reviews of it online and gave it a chance.

Honestly, for general audiences this movie would probably rate a 4-5. However, for those who like low budget gorefests, I'd rate it a solid 8.

I discovered my favorite movie of 2024 streaming on Night Flight. I love how record store culture is portrayed, with complete strangers bonding over obscure music and ending up sharing overnight listening parties. And the gradual descent into a bugfuggen crazy horror movie is masterful, especially given the microbudget and unknown cast. My jaw dropped open so often from watching this movie, I got cottonmouth!

Cult director Christopher Bickel also tosses in a mushroom-soaked soundtrack that tries as hard to make you trip as some of the movie characters, who seem to think nothing of dosing unsuspecting visitors with psychedelics. Highly recommended to fans of Master Of Horror and the original Evil Dead trilogy --