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Ticket to Heaven

  • 19811981
  • PGPG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
810
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ticket to Heaven (1981)
  • Drama
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'... Read allDavid 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 ultim... Read allDavid 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.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
810
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ralph L. Thomas
  • Writers
    • Anne Cameron
    • Josh Freed(novel "Moonwebs")
    • Ralph L. Thomas
  • Stars
    • Nick Mancuso
    • Saul Rubinek
    • Meg Foster
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ralph L. Thomas
  • Writers
    • Anne Cameron
    • Josh Freed(novel "Moonwebs")
    • Ralph L. Thomas
  • Stars
    • Nick Mancuso
    • Saul Rubinek
    • Meg Foster
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos1

    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 22
    Video 29:17
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 22

    Photos18

    Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Kim Cattrall, Meg Foster, and Robert Joy in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Saul Rubinek in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Meg Foster and Nick Mancuso in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Meg Foster in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Meg Foster in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Nick Mancuso in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Meg Foster and Robert Joy in Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Ticket to Heaven (1981)
    Kim Cattrall and Nick Mancuso in Ticket to Heaven (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nick Mancuso
    Nick Mancuso
    • Davidas David
    Saul Rubinek
    Saul Rubinek
    • Larryas Larry
    Meg Foster
    Meg Foster
    • Ingridas Ingrid
    Kim Cattrall
    Kim Cattrall
    • Ruthieas Ruthie
    R.H. Thomson
    R.H. Thomson
    • Linc Struncas Linc Strunc
    Jennifer Dale
    Jennifer Dale
    • Lisaas Lisa
    Guy Boyd
    Guy Boyd
    • Ericas Eric
    Dixie Seatle
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Paul Soles
    • Morleyas Morley
    Harvey Atkin
    Harvey Atkin
    • Mr. Stoneas Mr. Stone
    Robert Joy
    Robert Joy
    • Patrickas Patrick
    Stephen Markle
    • Karlas Karl
    Timothy Webber
    Timothy Webber
    • Gregas Greg
    Patrick Brymer
    • Dr. Dwyeras Dr. Dwyer
    Marcia Diamond
    • Estheras Esther
    Michael Zelniker
    Michael Zelniker
    • Dannyas Danny
    • (as Michael Zelnicker)
    Denise Naples
    • Bonnieas Bonnie
    Angelo Rizacos
    • Paulas Paul
    • Director
      • Ralph L. Thomas
    • Writers
      • Anne Cameron
      • Josh Freed(novel "Moonwebs")
      • Ralph L. Thomas
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
    • religious cult
    • cult
    • brainwashing
    • mind control
    • cult deprogrammer
    • 25 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Becoming one of them is your Ticket to Heaven
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Nominated for fourteen Genies (Canada's Academy Awards), winning four including Best Motion Picture.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Dwyer: Jesus was never meant to die. He failed.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Missing/Ticket to Heaven/Vernon, Florida/The Seduction (1982)

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Clever, scary and important
    This film should be required viewing for anyone who believes in Free Will, or that Individual Liberties are all that matters.

    The most profound lesson for me is the clear message that NO-ONE, no matter how cynical and initially unsympathetic, would be able to resist the methods this group employs to suck in new inductees - provided only that they are unaware in advance of what is going on. The process is brilliant, diabolical and irresistible. The sleep deprivation, constant presence of others, constant barrage of reinforcing messages, powerful peer pressure and not a moment available to think - I don't believe anyone could resist. They simply wouldn't have the time to realise that they *want* to resist.

    Of all these influences I find the character of Ruthie perhaps the most frightening and effective: cute as a button, shining with enthusiasm and energy, playful, flirtatious, controlling, prettily wheedling - and totally dedicated to bringing in new freshly-emptied heads for 'Father'. I fear for my gender, because for a certain age group of men, a smiling, cajoling Ruthie can get almost anything. Various fundamentalist groups have employed such 'flirty fishing' techniques with terrible effect.

    This film blends its didactic message into a tense storyline with huge skill. It's helped, perhaps, by the fact that we want to see and understand the raw documentary details as much as we want the story to play out. I still think it's well done: we see the induction process operating successfully on a typical unarmed and unresisting victim in the form of David; and on a more resistant but still unarmed Larry. Only Larry's well-prepared rescuer (Eric?) is equipped to break free of the web.

    The film benefited enormously from having a set of fine actors who have gone on to great things in the industry. I'll leave it to others better versed to explore the individual performances, but to me all the parts are handled skilfully and thoughtfully by competent actors. I was particularly affected by the frequent use of what I like to call 'face acting': flashes of CU and ECU in which an actor can reveal internal thoughts and struggles without clunky words. A tiny grin on the face of Linc Strunc when he sees a point hit home in David; the final darted glance by the rescued David at the Heavenly Children standing at their car - not fear, not triumph, but not conviction either. And Meg Foster, of course, whose mutant eyes make actual acting unnecessary.

    Interestingly odd note: the scene in which an exhausted David falls asleep at the wheel of the van taking his companions home, and swerves off the highway into a ditch. In his mixed terror and relief at surviving the accident, the other members gather round, laughing and hugging him, without a hint of blame for having nearly killed them all. This was genuine and touching, but the open and loving camaraderie is also one of the chains that bind David to the group. Clever, I thought.

    Perhaps the most significant question of the film - unstated and perhaps unintentional - is this: the Heavenly Children are a cult, and defined as such, so we may ignore their teachings and beliefs as mere fantasies with no basis. But what distinguishes a cult from other faith-based belief systems whose primary symbols are a deity, a messiah, and a Satan? Their wider acceptance? Whatever one's opinion about religion in all its forms, it certainly creates the mind-set and iconography in which cults have flourished throughout the centuries - sometimes going on to become the standard in their part of the world.

    CD
    helpful•7
    0
    • cdimdb
    • Jan 6, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • David the Heavenly Child
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
      • Famous Players
      • Ronald Cohen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$4,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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