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Jackals

  • 2017
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
Jackals (2017)
Trailer for Jackals
Play trailer1:51
10 Videos
9 Photos
Folk HorrorDramaHorrorMysteryThriller

Set in the 1980s, an estranged family hires a cult deprogrammer to take back their teenage son from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, ... Read allSet in the 1980s, an estranged family hires a cult deprogrammer to take back their teenage son from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, demanding the boy back.Set in the 1980s, an estranged family hires a cult deprogrammer to take back their teenage son from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, demanding the boy back.

  • Director
    • Kevin Greutert
  • Writer
    • Jared Rivet
  • Stars
    • Deborah Kara Unger
    • Ben Sullivan
    • Chelsea Ricketts
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.9/10
    5.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Kevin Greutert
    • Writer
      • Jared Rivet
    • Stars
      • Deborah Kara Unger
      • Ben Sullivan
      • Chelsea Ricketts
    • 68User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 33Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos10

    Jackals
    Trailer 1:51
    Jackals
    Jackals
    Trailer 1:52
    Jackals
    Jackals
    Trailer 1:52
    Jackals
    Jackals: The Kidnapping (Redband)
    Clip 1:28
    Jackals: The Kidnapping (Redband)
    Jackals: I'm Talking To You
    Clip 1:36
    Jackals: I'm Talking To You
    Jackals: I'm Talking To You (Redband)
    Clip 1:36
    Jackals: I'm Talking To You (Redband)
    Jackals: Where's The Baby?
    Clip 0:39
    Jackals: Where's The Baby?

    Photos8

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    Top cast15

    Edit
    Deborah Kara Unger
    Deborah Kara Unger
    • Kathy Powell
    Ben Sullivan
    Ben Sullivan
    • Justin Powell
    Chelsea Ricketts
    Chelsea Ricketts
    • Samantha
    Nick Roux
    Nick Roux
    • Campbell Powell
    Johnathon Schaech
    Johnathon Schaech
    • Andrew Powell
    Stephen Dorff
    Stephen Dorff
    • Jimmy Levine
    Alex Kingi
    Alex Kingi
    • Mateo
    Carol Abney
    Carol Abney
    • Mariana
    Alex Castillo
    Alex Castillo
    • Eloy
    Rxchie
    • Jackal Cult Member
    Cassie Hernandez
    Cassie Hernandez
    • Luisa
    Alyssa Julya Smith
    Alyssa Julya Smith
    • Fox Girl
    Jason Scott Jenkins
    Jason Scott Jenkins
    • Lead Cultist
    • (as Jason Jenkins)
    Nick Feld
    • Jackal Cult Member
    • (uncredited)
    Andrew Russo
    Andrew Russo
    • Killer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Kevin Greutert
    • Writer
      • Jared Rivet
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews68

    4.95K
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    Featured reviews

    7johnplocar

    It's not perfect, but it is at least effective and a quick sit.

    I've dig movies like this; a small group of people stuck in a location that fight for their lives against a cult/gang in order to make it through the night. It's a sub genre of thrillers and horror films that we don't get that often and it's a real shame; movies such as "Straw Dogs", "Assault on Precinct 13", and last year's "Green Room" are phenomenal examples of that specific type of movie I'm referring to. While this I wouldn't say is quite on par with the ones I just mentioned, I still found this to be a very intense ride.

    Going into this movie, I had no idea as to where it was going or even what it was about. I knew the title and that it was some sort of horror film judging from its box cover. And truth be told, that is probably the best way to go into this movie, so if you are curious to check this out if you are in the mood for a terrifically suspenseful and somewhat gory thriller then skip this review now and go straight to it. I believe it is worth the watch, but if you'd like to hear some of my thoughts well...you're in luck because I don't feel like shutting up just yet.

    A movie like this can run into major problems with the characters, particularly that they're just flat out unlikable. Fortunately the writer and director seem to know what they're doing and make sure that even when the characters are being assholes, they're still believable as to why they're doing what they're doing. Every character's motivation is clear and works well in order to create a tense atmosphere for their situation. The score and direction reminded somewhat of John Carpenter's early filmography, especially with its opening scene paying homage to Carpenter's "Halloween" and once the cult shows up in the film it is reminiscent of his film "Assault on Precinct 13" with how they're shot. Speaking of the cult, I did like that this movie captured them as an extremely imposing and intimidating force to be reckoned with. Also, because of this being the kind of movie that it is, it is relatively unpredictable as to how things are going to end, which I also liked about it.

    I have issues, honestly some major ones at that. Such as some characters doing some really stupid things occasionally, yet at the same time I had to think about what I would do in the situation and if push came to shove I may have done similar things. Plus this is supposedly based on a true story, so for all I know all of this is completely accurate as to what actually happened. Although with how it ends, which is ridiculously abrupt, it makes me question as to how much of this is factual. Another problem I have with the last act is that a certain character is made out to have a "change of heart" about something that didn't make much sense, granted it turned out to have been a trick, but still the film seemed to be under the impression that I was suppose to buy into this notion. Yet nothing up to this point ever led me to believe that this character would have actually changed like that, which only resulted in making the remaining moments of the movie predictable and I had to wait for it to catch up with me. One last little tidbit, while I did like the opening sequence of the film, it was also pretty pointless; not connecting to really much of anything with the actual story. As though it were inserted at the beginning because the filmmakers needed something in order to get the audience on edge early, but had very little to bridge the gap to do so. Still a neat opening and does introduce the viewer to what they're in for, I just would have liked it to have been better connected to the main plot is all.

    One last nitpick was that I had to constantly remind myself that this was taking place in the 1980s. Something about how a large sum of this film is shot and edited, how the characters look, how they're speaking for some reason never felt like I was watching something that was set in 1983. I can't quite put my finger on it. Even the locations that the movie used I sat and thought to myself, "Well I guess this could be taking place in the 80s, or the present". There wasn't anything that stood out to me as, "Yes, this is obviously in the 80s" and because of that I kept wondering "why aren't they just using their phones to call the cops or something?" but then I have to think about it for a moment and remember that this is supposed to be 1983. I don't know exactly what it was about this movie, but that was a problem I kept coming across throughout the run time. Granted, it is a really stupid nitpick that is only the result of the film's probable low budget, but it was still a slight distraction that I thought was worth mentioning.

    Regardless of all the negatives listed, I still found this to be an intense slasher that is serviceable for a few scares if that's what you're looking for. It's nice to get a movie like this as apposed to the countless ghost/demon possession we seem to get all the time now. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty modern ghost/demon/possession films that are just fine if not truly great. But I just miss having a little more variety. As much as I love "The Conjuring", I wouldn't mind getting more like this one here. Especially in the theater, which is almost practically an extinct option currently. Anyways, give this a watch. I think it's worth your time if what I have said sounds appealing.
    4dwn-63584

    Lazy

    Just pure and simple lazy writing. Movie had potential but it was obviously rushed in hopes that the creators would just hope that the movie watchers don't have a brain. And just go eww ahhh scaryyy.. lame!
    6vacantskies00

    A Manson Family Nightmare

    Imagine your child has decided to identify with a cult. Not just any hippy, love is the answer, group of petal pushers. This one is calculated, large in numbers, and not prone to losing members.

    The history of Jackals screenplay was written early in the torture porn industry created by Saw, Hostel, and Wolf Creek. Years later, the script was finally realized, ironically, by Saw editor and director Kevin Greutart. Let the games begin.

    First of all, the Halloween influenced opening is solid and grabs you from the get go. Silent, yet violent and revealing. Soon after, an off-road kidnapping takes place; all the while mirroring a small family unit taking solace in a cabin.

    Colliding head on, the plot takes shape. The kidnapping is that of said families estranged son/boyfriend/brother in an attempt to deprogram him from the cult he fell in to. Credit to Stephen Dorff as the military deprogrammer, getting lean and mean while still staying sympathetic to the family.

    Soon, as expected, the cult come knocking at the door; wanting a sheep from their flock back home. Enter the home invasion aspect of the film. Outside, the cult wants their member back. Inside, the family refuses to give up their own.

    Had this film been made when it was meant to be, it would have been released theatrically along side Saw IV and Hostel 2. Jackals does feel a bit dated, however, there is a lot of heart injected into each of the characters. Good and bad. So much so, that a sequel wouldn't be out of line. It's rare to find a DTV film that asks you: How far will you go to save a member of your family; even if it costs you the remainder of the rest of them.
    7Fella_shibby

    If only it was made in 2006......People who r comparing it to The Strangers aint aware of the far superior French film Them aka Ils.

    Saw this recently on a blu-ray. Had seen the trailer n the concept of cult group n the theme of home invasion piqued my interest. Of course Kevin Greutert's name was the other good factor. The guy being an editor himself knows how to control his film's pacing and how to build suspense. Most people r comparing it to The Strangers (2008) but if u read the trivia section, the script of this film was written in 2006. The other thing is Greutert was the editor for The Strangers but the real fact is The Strangers itself was a copy of the far superior French film Them aka Ils (2006). Coming back to this film, the director managed to start the film well with the initial home invasion murders a la Halloween style n then cut back to the van kidnapping scene n the cabin in the middle of nowhere. The settings n era were good too. The 80's era was obviously to show the lack of mobile phones n a reference to the Charles Manson cult group. The mask-wearing villains were creepy, Stephen Dorff's role was very small. I really wanted some showdown between him n the villains. Some viewers may complain that it would hav been better for the family to leave the cultist son but if u notice the start scene, the cultist person do come back to slaughter his family.
    6Stevieboy666

    Dark and depressing, good if that's what you're after

    A family employ a former Marine to kidnap and help reverse the brainwashing that their one son has under gone when he joined a dark and dangerous evil cult. The members want him back and lay siege to the family's isolated house. Jackals has a very basic plot but that does not matter, this movie is an exercise in terror and suspense, of violence and darkness. It is well acted and shot, the location gives a real feel of isolation and helplessness. The cult members, all dressed in leather and wearing creepy animal style masks, look terrifying. The movie is set several decades before it was made, I don't know why - perhaps it was to eliminate the ability of any body trapped inside the family home to use their cell 'phone and call for help? (needless to say the landline had been cut off). Overall a pretty decent 85 minutes, better than The Strangers.

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    Related interests

    Florence Pugh in Midsommar (2019)
    Folk Horror
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shot over the course of fifteen days in December, 2015, with two additional days of shooting in July, 2016.
    • Quotes

      Campbell Powell: [beating his brother] You don't remember how many times I kicked your ass young man

      Justin Powell: [tasting his blood] That just brought it all right back

    • Soundtracks
      To Kill Without Emotion
      Performed by December Wolves

      Written by December Wolves

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Jackals?Powered by Alexa

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 28, 2017 (Kuwait)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 弒血殺戮
    • Filming locations
      • Canyon Ranch, 368 E. Carlisle Rd., Westlake Village, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Tommy Alastra Productions (TAP)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $85,410
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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