David is a young man seduced by a religious cult that uses starvation, exhaustion, and brainwashing to mold recruits into money hustling disciples of a messiah-like leader. Chronicles ...
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Title: Ticket to Heaven (1981)
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7 wins & 11 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Nick Mancuso | ... | David | |
| Saul Rubinek | ... | Larry | |
| Meg Foster | ... | Ingrid | |
| Kim Cattrall | ... | Ruthie | |
| R.H. Thomson | ... | Linc Strunc | |
| Jennifer Dale | ... | Lisa | |
| Guy Boyd | ... | Eric | |
 |
Dixie Seatle | ... | Sarah |
|
|
Paul Soles | ... | Morley |
| Harvey Atkin | ... | Mr. Stone | |
| Robert Joy | ... | Patrick | |
|
|
Stephen Markle | ... | Karl |
| Timothy Webber | ... | Greg | |
|
|
Patrick Brymer | ... | Dr. Dwyer |
|
|
Marcia Diamond | ... | Esther |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
David is a young man seduced by a religious cult that uses starvation, exhaustion, and brainwashing to mold recruits into money hustling disciples of a messiah-like leader. Chronicles David's chilling transformation into a gaunt, mindless shadow of his former self...and his ultimate salvation when friends and family launch a plan to kidnap and deprogram him. Written by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Plot Keywords:
religious cult | cult | brainwashing | mind control | cult deprogrammer |Taglines:
Too frightening to be true ... Too true to be ignored. See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
CanadaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
9 October 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Bilet do nieba See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
CAD 4,500,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Production Co:
Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC), Famous Players, Ronald Cohen Productions See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Linc Strunc: I don't know man. See... I'm not God. I can't give you any answers. But all I do know is... that *father's* is a lie.
Larry: David, if you want to know about unselfish love, then take a look around. We're all here, only because we love you. Your mother, your father, are under arrest, because they love you. We're all doing this, and we're scared stiff of going to jail because... we love you. David, *that's * love. And if you can't see that... if ...
[...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Quotes
David: If Father's love... isn't unselfish, then... who's is?Linc Strunc: I don't know man. See... I'm not God. I can't give you any answers. But all I do know is... that *father's* is a lie.
Larry: David, if you want to know about unselfish love, then take a look around. We're all here, only because we love you. Your mother, your father, are under arrest, because they love you. We're all doing this, and we're scared stiff of going to jail because... we love you. David, *that's * love. And if you can't see that... if ...
[...]
See more »
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Nick Mancuso throws his all into the part of David, a young man seeking some meaning from his messy life who ends up bound tight in the web of a quasi-religious cult group. But he's got some big competition from co-star Saul Rubinek.
In the early eighties there were a couple of films fascinated by ideas of brainwashing, religious cults and deprogramming. Split Image is a companion piece to this film, which will interest many simply because of Kim Catrall's appearance as the obsessessed Ruthie, but which is even more notable I think for the strong friendship between Saul Rubinek's stand-up comedian character and the troubled protagonist, David. The film builds a poignant, revealing portrait of these two friends whose bond is crucial in determining both their futures. Rubinek is one of those instantly familiar faces whose performances in films like The Contender, Nixon, True Romance, and Dick conceal him in that strange underclass of actors - the supporting player (as opposed to the more showy supporting "Actor" parts claimed by brilliant die-hards like Dennis Hopper and Dianne Wiest.)
In this film, however, he shines and deserves to be seen in an excellently performed role. Mancuso similarly hasn't had much chance to fire like he does here (admittedly he wasn't the greatest Marquis De Sade in the film of the same name a couple of years back). His transformation here though is painful to watch but compelling and easy to empathise with as he struggles with notions of identity and truth.
If this film has any problem it is that the film is kind of tailored-for-effect a little too neatly like a tv movie, but it still manages to provoke some suspense thanks to the intensely credible performers.
An interesting lost gem of the early eighties.