The Believers (1987)

When one considers that John Schlesinger directed The Believers it is no surprise that this movie feels like a bit of a throwback.  It didn't get the best reviews when it came out in 1987 but that may have been that the film style was more 1973.  It also deals with the well-worn topic of modern society colliding with traditional beliefs, with the supernatural having an actual influence.  Factor in that this is about Santeria and "dark" African magic and I can understand how this did not fit in with the 1980s and even less today.  

Cal Jamison (Martin Sheen) is a police psychologist raising his son Chris (Harley Cross) on his own after the death of his wife (Janet-Laine Green).  He has moved back to New York, renting an apartment from a woman named Jessica (Helen Shaver) and getting back in touch with old friends Dennis (Lee Richardson) and Kate Maslow (Elizabeth Wilson).  His relative peace is short-lived when he is asked to help with a police officer (Jimmy Smits) that had been working undercover and may now be a suspect in a ritual sacrifice. 

Working with Lt. Sean McTaggart (Robert Loggia), Cal soon learns more about the religion of Santeria, which he thinks may have a connection.  Meanwhile it becomes apparent that whatever is happening is tied to a number of elite members of society in New York and centers around a man named Palo (Malick Bowens) who is powerful with black magic.  For his efforts Cal, Jessica and Chris all become targets of the cult. 

The movie is based on a 1982 novel called The Religion by Nicholas Conde, in which Jamison is an anthropologist learning more about Santeria and its dark opposite, Brujeria, while aiding McTaggart in the investigation.  While The Believers is a decent film in its own right the original concept sounds more interesting.  It is still quite old school, as many of the stories of Voodoo and such petered out after the 1950s.  The 1970s had plenty of movies about hidden Satanic cults which this is movie is more akin to in execution, which may have been the reason for the minor changes.  

Despite not doing anything new with the subject matter The Believers didn't deserve the critical drubbing it received.  Harley Cross was a good child actor and Martin Sheen gives a restrained performance as an aggrieved husband trying to move on with his life.  The story does play out in a predictable manner and Palo should have been a more interesting villain than he is, but the pacing is just right and the movie doesn't spin its wheels despite being just short of two hours.  John Schlesinger is as professional as can be, which should be expected from the guy who brought us Midnight Cowboy. 

While I will say this is an underrated and almost forgotten movie that does deserve a second look I wouldn't call it a classic.  I find the ending to be a bit of a cop-out and too much of it does feel like the story is just retreading old territory.  There are some good moments, such as when Palo and Jessica encounter each other at a posh fundraiser and the final scenes between McTaggart and Cal.  There is also great scene involving spiders that is sure to creep most viewers out.  The movie needed more of these outrageous or tense scenes to set it apart from its influences.  

The Believers (1987)

Time: 114 minutes

Starring: Martin Sheen, Harley Cross, Helen Shaver, Robert Loggia, Malick Bowen

Director: John Schlesinger