{"id":1716,"date":"2006-11-02T13:01:52","date_gmt":"2006-11-02T20:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1716"},"modified":"2021-02-05T15:56:28","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T22:56:28","slug":"ticket-to-heaven-1981","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1716","title":{"rendered":"Ticket to Heaven (1981)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Bring in the money! Stay awake! Smash out Satan!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Poster.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a lonely, depressed young man (Nick Mancuso) is inducted into a Moonie-like cult, his friends (including Saul Rubinek as a struggling comic) and family members hatch a plot to rescue and deprogram him.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cults<\/li>\n<li>Escape<\/li>\n<li>Psychological Horror<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis &#8220;real life horror film&#8221; earns my vote as the single best movie ever made about cults. Full of many &#8220;convincing, terrifying&#8221; scenes, the film effectively shows how new recruits are brainwashed &#8212; through deprivation of adequate sleep, nutritious food, and privacy &#8212; and end up devoting their lives to collecting money for a messianic leader. Fortunately, director Ralph Thomas injects this undeniably freaky material with plenty of levity &#8212; primarily in the form of Rubinek&#8217;s character, whose humorous presence assures us that things will (hopefully) turn out okay in the end. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Saul Rubinek as David&#8217;s heroic friend-to-the-rescue<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek-1024x649.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"406\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek-1024x649.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek-768x487.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek-1536x974.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Rubinek.png 1569w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Some truly freaky scenes &#8212; i.e., when David tries to take a walk by himself but is followed by a posse of &#8220;friendly&#8221; cult members<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk-1024x669.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"418\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk-1024x669.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk-128x84.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk-768x502.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Walk.png 1513w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Meg Foster &#8212; with her &#8220;creepy green eyes&#8221; &#8212; as &#8220;Sister Ingrid&#8221;, a local cult leader<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster-1024x667.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"417\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster-1024x667.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster-128x83.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster-768x500.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Foster.png 1509w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A powerfully realistic depiction of cult indoctrination and deprogramming<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming-1024x672.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"420\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming-1024x672.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming-128x84.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming-768x504.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Programming.png 1495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming-1024x664.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"415\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming-1024x664.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming-128x83.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming-768x498.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/Ticket-to-Heaven-Deprogramming.png 1519w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. This excellent Canadian sleeper deserves wider viewing.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0083201\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1981\/11\/13\/movies\/ticket-to-heaven-a-sleeper-about-cults.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/ticket-to-heaven-1981\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/79400.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Bring in the money! Stay awake! Smash out Satan!&#8221; Synopsis: When a lonely, depressed young man (Nick Mancuso) is inducted into a Moonie-like cult, his friends (including Saul Rubinek as a struggling comic) and family members hatch a plot to rescue and deprogram him. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cults Escape Psychological Horror Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: This &#8220;real life horror film&#8221; earns my vote as the single best movie ever made about cults. Full of many &#8220;convincing, terrifying&#8221; scenes,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1716\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1716"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68994,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1716\/revisions\/68994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}