Is it just me or did anyone....... - Ticket to Heaven (1981) Discussion

[–] quinnum 19 years ago

I think it's a great movie. It paints a great picture of the techniques used by cults/groups to control "the masses". It also shows how some people, intelligent, can become vulnerable when their confidence/self-esteem is shaken.

I agonized over the emotions Saul Rubinek's character displayed. Losing a good/best friend is so difficult. My friend committed suicide 2 1/2 years ago, and to this day I miss him. Like Rubinek's character, I couldn't understand so much of what was happening/happened with my friend.

reply

[–] GALLEYWENCH 18 years ago

This movie is extremely accurate. It should scare you. If it seems like a 'horror' movie to you I'd be very careful with that glass of Kool-Aid. Do NOT underestimate the power of these people. The masses are easy to lead. There seem to be many willing partakers.

reply

[–] macbethp 18 years ago

I saw this movie years ago and found it harrowing. I went through a semi-cult experience at the age of 19, and this movie really depicted the whole process of indoctrination I remembered---the cheery, friendly members, the group-think, never being left alone, the lack of sleep, even the skimpy meals. After seeing the movie and seeing how it reflected my own experience, I read that all of those elements are carefully designed to break down the independent thinking of the prospective cult member...it really is like brainwashing. Great movie with great performances and yes, it is like a horror movie, especially if you can identify with it!

reply

[–] power-if-not-corruption 18 years ago

I for one didn't enjoy this film at all. But I will say it was freaky and evoked a few emotions from the audience of my fellow classmates lol. Maybe I just wasn't looking deep enough but I nearly fell asleep while watching it *shrug* ah well. It's all in the eye of the beholder I guess.

reply

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bacci40 17 years ago

its been a few years since ive seen the film, and i was curious about a couple of things.

did the writers base the fictional cult on a combo of the children of god and the moonies?

was the deprogrammer patterned after ted patrick?

and at the end of the movie, did anyone else get the feeling that mancuso's character wasnt really "deprogrammed" and was just playing along.

and fyi, these cults are still out there, theyve just changed their m,o,

many have hired pr firms and attys, but they still use the procedures and pratices of making sure that members dont use their minds and cut themselves off from non-believers

so beware of cults like the family, scientology, the kabbalah center and others

reply

[–] TalosIV 17 years ago

Can't wait to get my copy on DVD! Been waiting for years for this release. I only saw the movie once but had to have it. It left that kind of impression.

and fyi, these cults are still out there, theyve just changed their m,o,

I've wondered what has happened to cults, as well. I think, perhaps, the rampant paranoia is not what it was in the 80's. However, there must still be cults. I agree.

Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 2011

reply

[–] zany_beat 16 years ago

The film was based on the true story called "Moonwebs: Journey into the Mind of a Cult", written by Josh Freed.
Freed's friend Benji was trapped in the Moonies.

The real deprogrammer was Ford Greene.

As for Mancuso's 'playing along', I'd have to disagree there: I saw the very real panic he managed to display in his eyes when the speaker was directing his comments personally. "David" looked positively stricken, and that's very hard to fake but he did an outstanding job.
As well, the meekness in his newly brainwashed character is disturbing ~ the scene in the restaurant when the others are cutting his breakfast for him ... creepy.

Yes, the cults ARE still out there. I was in Calgary in '89 and I saw a young woman apparently trying to sell chocolate bars on Stephen Avenue Mall. She seemed to be very nervous, as if somebody was making sure she was doing what she was supposed to. I felt bad that I didn't know what to do about it, and I couldn't be 100% sure of it anyway, but as I say it felt like someone was watching. After seeing how easily even the most relaxed and independent person can be lured, I thought I'd better not go there.

I hope the poor girl is okay .. and that, hopefully, I was wrong.

reply

[–] waveshock 15 years ago

and at the end of the movie, did anyone else get the feeling that mancuso's character wasnt really "deprogrammed" and was just playing along.

Indeed. There's a lot of tension through all the de-programation process, with the cult and the police looking for David and the nore than probable attemp at suicide by David with tbe lamp broken glass. When David is finally brought to tears and hugs with his family, you feel somewhat liberated of that tension. But in the very end, when the cult leaders make their appearance, although David initially seem to ignore them, the last stare he gaves them and the scene that close the movie leaves many things on the air: It's he looking with hate to those who make him go through a living hell... or it's just expressing his disdain to his family, just like he did when his mother hugged him in the airport? We never know...

reply

[–] Sparrowhawk 14 years ago

It's specifically based on the Moonies. There was a film about a guy who was kidnapped by his family and deprogrammed out of their cult, called "Moon Child" (IIRC), and it was the basis for this film. The earlier one had almost the exact same story, was a documentary/drama about the guy and he was in it playing himself.

reply

[–] zany_beat 13 years ago

Sorry to contradict you but the basis of this film is the book "Moonwebs:
Journey into the Mind of a Cult" by Josh Freed, Published 1980.

You were close with Moon Child.

Josh Freed, in fact, played one of the camp inductees in the movie. Watch for him in the song circle - he's kind of short, is balding and has thick dark curly hair and a beard...

reply

[–] Sparrowhawk 7 years ago

No, actually. You're wrong. The documentary was called Moonchild, and it's available for purchase on the producers' website.

http://www.shop.makepeaceproductions.com/Moonchild-Moonchild-Home-Use.htm

reply

[–] morganseer 11 years ago

macbethp, I'm curious how you got out. What you describe sounds like full brainwashing treatment to me.

reply

[–] aciolino 15 years ago

Well, it took almost four years for someone to respond but here it is.

Yes, absolutely. Terrifying.

reply

[–] Sparrowhawk 14 years ago

This movie is why I refuse to laugh at Tom Cruise. People roll their eyes at him and other Scientologists, but the way these scary cults can pinpoint anyone's weakness, no matter how strong he might seem, suck him in and take away his soul is beyond horrible. It's deeply frightening. NOTHING can protect you if you're targeted at the wrong moment in your life. All it takes is a vulnerability they can exploit, and all the riches and success in the world will not keep them out of your brain.

reply

[–] cookiela2001 14 years ago

<< Is it just me or did anyone find this movie really freaky. I was watching it and its like a horror movie!!! Does anyone else feel this way? >>

I think that's the film's intent.

These groups are freaky!! And, they're real.

reply

[–] ckanelevy 10 years ago

After seeing The Master I went back to see this movie again. This movie is terrifying and here's why: because we all know that it would be extremely difficult to avoid getting brain washed if we were in the main characters shoes. He was basically a prisoner who was being subject to deceptively sophisticated brain-washing techniques (sleep and protein deprivation, never being left alone, constant lectures, constant engagement in high energy activities while being surrounded by "encouraging" "loving" friends who do everything possible to convince you they're your new family, etc.) and it is well-documented that these techniques were employed by several cults.

reply

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

Every movie about cults scares me.

reply