''The Believer'' is a 2021 American

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...

written and directed by

Shan Serafin Shan Serafin ( ; born May 17, 1972) is an American film director, screenwriter, and novelist. In both film and literature he is known for his work in the thriller and action genres. For stage, the majority of his productions fall under drama. W ...

. It stars Aidan Bristow, Sophie Kargman, Susan Wilder, Lindsay Ginter, Robbie Goldstein and

Billy Zane William George Zane Jr. (born February 24, 1966) is an American actor. His breakthrough role was in the Australian film ''Dead Calm (film), Dead Calm'' (1989), a performance that earned him a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association, ...

. It runs for 91 minutes. The film is about a woman driven murderously insane by a mad doctor's strange alternative therapy.

Plot

Lucas (Aidan Bristow), a once-prominent

nuclear physicist Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies atomic nuclei and their constituents and interactions, in addition to the study of other forms of nuclear matter. Nuclear physics should not be confused with atomic physics, which studies the ...

, finds himself unemployed and grappling with the emotional aftermath of his wife Violet's (Sophie Kargman) sudden and unexplained termination of her pregnancy. This event creates a chasm in their marriage, leaving Lucas feeling betrayed and confused. As Lucas attempts to navigate his job search and mend his strained relationship, he begins to experience alarming physical symptoms, persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and

hallucinations A hallucination is a perception in the absence of an external stimulus that has the compelling sense of reality. They are distinguishable from several related phenomena, such as dreaming ( REM sleep), which does not involve wakefulness; pse ...

. Simultaneously, Violet's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, she exhibits

mood swings A mood swing is an extreme or sudden change of mood. Such changes can play a positive or a disruptive part in promoting problem solving and in producing flexible forward planning. When mood swings are severe, they may be categorized as part ...

, engages in cryptic rituals, and isolates herself in the attic for hours. Concerned about his deteriorating health and Violet's mental state, Lucas seeks help from Dr. Benedict (

), a therapist known for unconventional methods. Dr. Benedict suggests an alternative therapy involving immersive role-playing exercises designed to confront and overcome deep-seated fears. Lucas agrees, hoping to restore normalcy to his life. However, the therapy sessions blur the lines between reality and delusion. Lucas begins to question his perceptions as he experiences vivid nightmares and encounters with mysterious figures. Violet's actions grow more sinister, she speaks in tongues, displays knowledge of events she couldn't possibly know, and hints at a malevolent presence influencing their lives. The tension escalates when two enigmatic individuals visit their home, claiming to be Violet's parents. Their unsettling demeanor and cryptic conversations deepen Lucas's

paranoia Paranoia is an instinct or thought process that is believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety, suspicion, or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of co ...

. He discovers hidden journals and artifacts suggesting Violet's involvement in occult practices aimed at summoning otherworldly entities. As Lucas delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a chilling revelation: he may be the target of a ritual intended to serve a dark purpose. His attempts to escape are thwarted by a series of supernatural occurrences, trapping him in a nightmarish reality where trust is elusive, and his own mind becomes an unreliable ally. Lucas confronts Violet during a ritualistic ceremony. The confrontation forces him to face his deepest fears and the possibility that his reality has been manipulated by forces beyond comprehension.

Cast

* Aidan Bristow as Lucas * Sophie Kargman as Violet * Susan Wilder as Charlotte *

Lindsey Ginter Lindsey Lee Ginter (December 13, 1950 – September 1, 2024) was an American actor. Ginter is known as Men in Black (The X-Files)#The Cleaner/Crew Cut Man, Crew Cut Man, a government assassin, in the television series ''The X-Files'' and as Sam ...

as Gus * Robbie Goldstein *

as Dr. Benedict

Release

Freestyle Releasing Freestyle Releasing, LLC is an American independent film distribution company based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2004, specializing in releasing low budget films theatrically. Unlike most distributors, Freestyle Releasing does not put ...

releases ''The Believer'' On-Demand on April 2, 2021.

Reception

Alex Saveliev of ''

Film Threat ''Film Threat'' is an American online film review publication, and earlier, a national magazine that focused primarily on independent film, although it also reviewed videos and DVDs of mainstream films, as well as Hollywood movies in theaters. ...

'' gave it a five out of ten and he wrote:

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Believer, The (2021 film) 2021 films American horror films 2021 horror films American mad scientist films Films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic 2020s English-language films 2020s American films Freestyle Releasing films English-language horror films