I Joined a Cult

As a horror aficionado you gotta appreciate when the low budget films give it their all and offer something unique. The main character is going through an internal struggle that manifests outwardly and we get a front row seat in her bipolar rollercoaster of emotions through what might be termed a "religious experience". The length clocks in on the shorter side at a svelte 70-something minutes, but it seems to fit the story they're trying to tell. There are some parts of the story I would have liked to see clarified or resolved better, but overall it hit the spot and it was nice to see a found footage horror film, you don't see enough of them get made these days.

The story is interesting and the script isn't bad. The main hidden cameras, that are shown in the trailer so I dont consider mentioning them a spoiler, are mostly clever- but would still be noticed by anyone not walking around with their eyes permanently stuck to their phone. The main actress does a good job when speaking / acting like a journalist in the beginning, that was also in the trailer, but the rest of the time her acting is as bad as most everyone else's- all of whose acting is so bad that it almost ruined the movie for me completely. The good points, that I had already mentioned, were the sole reasons I gave a 2 star rating. I would only recommend this movie to die-hard fans of the Found Footage Film genre who simply want to watch it for the hidden camera shots and to add another title watched to their lists. Though, there are very questionable scenes that are shot by the "hidden cameras" but are showing what the character sees. I hate when filmmakers do things like that in the Found Footage Film genre because it absolutely kills the "Could this be real" feel of the movie- which for me is the point of the genre.

This movie was a blast to watch. The cast delivered a truly compelling ensemble performance, spearheaded by a powerful female lead who brilliantly portrays a complicated, flawed, and layered character you can't take your eyes off.

While watching, I found myself reminded of performers like Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Bruce Campbell, and Mia Farrow-all of whom made early career credits in the low-fi horror genre. I'm eager to see what comes next for this cast and these filmmakers, and I don't doubt that it will also be a pleasure to watch.

If you only like the MCU, bloated remakes, or movies starring The Rock and Sydney Sweeney, skip it. However, if you enjoy cults, found footage, and getting an early front-row view of budding careers, Prime it now.

I am writing this review as a a PSA, in fact, I'm writing this review as a way to save lives. This movie was hot garbage, and this is coming from someone who is not hard to please when it comes to Found Footage movies. The special effects, we're essentially non-existent, and a few times where special effects were needed, they were so poorly done that it looked comical. There are low budget movies, but in this case, it was a no budget movie. The acting? Very poor, very rigid, and one of the characters literally sounded like he was reading off of a piece of paper, that's how bad it was. And the ending? What the hell was that? Was that supposed to be a twist? Because if so, it was literally telegraphed in the first half of the movie. What a let down. You watch the movie waiting for something to happen, and nothing happens. I am all for low budget horror, I've seen at least a couple hundred or more low budget horror movies, but this one has to be the worst I've ever seen. The only redeeming quality this movie has is its run time which is a little over an hour and 10 minutes, an hour and 10 minutes which, unfortunately I will never get back.

For horror and found footage fans, this movie absolutely delivers, checking off all the essentials for fanatics of the genre. The acting is solid solid, with the cast delivering believable performances that pull you into the story from start to finish. The setting is tense and atmospheric, creating a perfect backdrop for the creepy cult setting. There's a dash of unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing without feeling overdone or forced, keeping the plot engaging and unpredictable.

On top of that, the b-plot side-stories add just the right amount of depth, giving you more than just the main storyline to sink your teeth into. The characters experience noticeable growth, making their journey feel meaningful and worth investing in emotionally. And perhaps one of the best parts? The runtime is perfectly paced - it gets the job done without dragging on or overstaying its welcome, leaving you feeling satisfied rather than exhausted. For fans of the genre, this one is a must-watch.