5/5 Nick Mancuso Digital Downloads
  by NYCContessina
Superb performance which earned Nick Mancuso his first Genie Award. This very RARE film is now available for download. For more information and to view the trailer please visit Nick Mancuso Italy, The Italian Site, or Google Nick Mancuso Digital Downloads.


5/5 Oldie but goodie!
  by SusieQNY
Ticket to Heaven
This is a very good movie about the psychology of brainwashing and cults. Mancuso gives an EXCELLENT and believable performance, and Kim Cattrall just ropes you in with her charm. A classic.

5/5 Chillingly accurate
  by D. E. Collins (Oakland, CA)
I still get chills whenever I watch this. In 1976, I spent a week in Boonville on the Moonie farm that is portrayed in this movie. I can recognize every aspect of the experience in the movie, and can identify individuals, particularly the "boot camp" trainer portrayed by Kim Cattrall. The chanting on the bus. The singing of "Red, Red Robin" at the crack of dawn. The dodgeball games. The never being allowed to be alone. The "philosophical" lectures. Fortunately, I was not psychologically weak and had no need to belong to a group, plus I am a lifelong atheist. I got bored and left after a week (they did not try to hold me by force). It was only much later that I discovered that this was an indoctrination camp for Reverend Moon, as they do not reveal this fact early on. If you want to understand the reality of the process of becoming a mindless cultist, this is the film to watch!

4/5 "Nananananananana leader, leader, leader!"
  by J. Michael (Now Born)
This is an excellent dramatization of how an ordinary man (an atheist Jew no less!) fell under the influence of a religious cult- modeled on the Moonies- and how he was eventually rescued and deprogrammed. It's a gripping movie, featuring several now-famous actors before they were well-known. I think it's an important movie for the light it shines on the workings of our weak, needy human psyche and the accusing finger it points at all groups which employ spiritually and mentally manipulative tactics to ensnare and retain members.

If this film's message were limited to cults, I wouldn't be that interested. After all, how many people are really going off to live on communes under the direct control of some semi-divine leader? I don't think cults, per se, are such a big problem. Where I think we see the most widespread use of cultish practices is in many of the charismatic megachurches and their denominational offshoots that have proliferated throughout our suburbs and our airwaves.

Where else do we find such expert use of love-bombing, personality alteration, group elitism, sensory overload, financial exploitation and psychological manipulation carried out in support of a charismatic, authoritarian and unaccountable leader (pastor/prophet/apostle) whose messages are believed to be divinely inspired? The situation has gotten so bad that Congress is now holding hearings about some of these televangelists who have gotten obscenely rich telling their followers that God's blessings depend on how much money they donate to these pastors' ministries. I'm glad that these people are being put under public scrutiny, because one of the techniques used to deprogram a cult member is to expose the hypocrisy or worldliness of the holy leader. However, the preponderance of such churches blunts much of the positive effect the prison sentence of a Peter Popoff or Benny Hinn might have- their followers will easily just find another leader in the next time-slot on TBN. Hopefully, enough exposure might eventually cause a change, God willing.

I guess the lesson here is that we all want to be loved, and need a sense of belonging and importance somewhere. The trick is to be aware that a lot of people want to love you for their own ends, which may not be in your best interest. True love requires the surrender of your heart, not your mind. Jesus told us to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (MT 10:16) A tough combo, to be sure, but necessary if we're to avoid ending up selling flowers in airports or giving our credit card number to TV preachers in flamboyant suits.

5/5 Deserving a remastered DVD release
  by Sheri Richardson (Formerly San Jose, CA US, now in the Wilds of OR US)
TICKET TO HEAVEN is a most effective film, one that flew through theaters far too quickly on its initial run (thanks for the tip, Siskel & Ebert), shedding light on any number of obsessions. The focus is on a religious cult, but could as easily center around any pursuit where, with all the attractive chaff winnowed away, the end aim is making money for the top dogs or ideals. Where membership comes with a strident urging to include friends and relations.

As Linc Strunc (R.H. Thomson's extraordinary performance in a Genie-winning role) says, "It's the smart ones" who prove the most difficult to deprogram.

Nick Mancuso's David is intelligent, but he lacks what many are missing: Close human contact, permission to touch someone without fear or evoking sexual connotations. For many, that's like the difference between hugging your parents as a child, and the wall that goes up when you must "be a man" or "put away childish things".

The tools used to unhinge David's rationale are Legion: Beauty, peace, and belonging held up as within-reach (but cunningly and perpetually unattainable) goals. Simple messages that snowball. Inquisitiveness and discussion trampled as selfish distractions, with some subtle belittling. Repetition to instill new habits, relentlessly grinding in new beliefs. And then there's the food, and toying with body chemistry -- good science abused by clever minds.

A fine, memorable ensemble cast, from Guy Boyd's Eric, to Robert Joy's Patrick, to Timothy Webber's Greg, right down to Michael Wincott (THE CROW) in a minor role. Many of Canada's very best performers.

Saul Rubinek, who played nearly the same character in AGAINST ALL ODDS, goes to the other end of the scale here, however. A stalwart friend, Larry, never giving up however hard things get. A solid performance, one that embedded Rubinek's name in this reviewer's mind.

Paul Soles and Marcia Diamond are splendid as David's parents. Harvey Atkin adds some nice texture as Larry's boss. Who could say "no" to Kim Cattrall when she's this welcoming, and who wouldn't blanch before Meg Foster at her eeriest. Stephen Markle, as Karl, is a voice of reason who nonetheless does this to his friend, David.

And Nick Mancuso (HEARTBREAKERS, but who first impressed this reviewer in NIGHTWING) shines as David. Mancuso's a journeyman actor, always working, but rarely has a role so showcased his talents as TICKET TO HEAVEN. A performance you won't soon forget.

Most definitely deserving a new DVD release.