Ticket to Heaven

This is a descent cult movie but it could have been better , the end scene with the so called de programming is rushed and also the cult itself stays a bit shallow The transition from summer camp to cult is in my opinion to sudden .

I also compared this title to Split image with James Woods and that movie was better in the details and the psychological backstory .

Based on the non-fiction book "Moonwebs" by Josh Freed, "Ticket to Heaven" is a gripping thriller about an unsuspecting young man who gets sucked into a "religious" cult, obviously the Unification Church (though not explicitly mentioned in the film).

There's very little time wasted with extraneous or slow scenes...hence you quickly feel the sense of foreboding as David first comes in contact with them and eventually is taken under their spell. The methods outlined in the film are truly insidious.

Great acting abounds, and most of the cast has gone on to have very successful acting careers (click on the links of the cast). An added surprise is a very young Kim Cattrall, who actually acts in this film, versus the vamping character for which she later become so well known.

There's a great laugh in the credits at the end, when they use the usual legal disclaimer that says "all events and persons in the film are fictitious". If only!

TICKET TO HEAVEN is dramatically effective, sociologically interesting, and thoroughly engaging. It has one of my favorite endings,which leaves the viewer with an intense sense of catharsis and relief. Great performances, especially by R.H. Thomson as the "deprogrammer"- what a classic character! This is an unsung sleeper which lends much insight into the world of cults and their effect on families-- track it down on video if you can!

This was an extremely accurate account of recruitment, indoctrination and life in a coercive religious group. It also accurately portrayed the lengths some go to rescue people from this type of group, the lengths some will go to stay in the group and the difficulty some people have breaking out.

In addition to an accurate portrayal of the subject matter, the film is very well made. Although I doubt it would be considered as "art", the film moves along very well, has a good plot, good acting, great dialog and the production values are very good. I did not view this film for entertainment, but rather because of the subject matter. I was pleasantly surprised that it was outstanding as dramatic film, as well as educational.

This 1981 film is supported by a great cast and film score. The careers of Rubinek, Cattrall and Mancuso were boosted by this excellent film. An anti-cult film, "Ticket To Heaven" (1981) shares a similar subject with "Split Image," released the following year. TTH, for me, is a much more entertaining and realistic film. Filled with dramatic moments and fine performances, it deals with the true story of a depressed young man drifting into the cult of Sun-Yung Moon. "Split Image" (1982) portrays the identity crisis of a young man seeking answers beyond the illusions of his own shallow life and those of his family and friends. His search leads him to a new-age cult, where he finds the leader and his goals to be more sinister and empty than the life he ran away from. Carried by the cast and a fine music score by Bill Conti, "Split Image" doesn't provide the realistic, powerful performances from the lead characters that make TTH the choice between the two. Both films communicate worthy messages and deserve a look. While many of life's questions can be answered by the Bible, proper spiritual guidance and direction is essential, particularly for those who are not mature enough to seek God on their own. At the time these films were released, cults were very active and predatory. Today's youth are more likely to drift into new-age or satanic cults than Christian ones or, perhaps more likely, choose a life that is without spiritual goals or substance. Both these films can help by providing some answers or by stimulating thought on subjects that might otherwise be avoided.