Jimmy (Stephen Dorff) is a former Marine turned deprogrammer who kidnaps a rich kid named Justin (Ben Sullivan) from a cult and brings him to a cabin in the woods. There, he and Justin’s family stage an intervention and try to undo the cults’ mental hold over him. It doesn’t take long before the cult members show up with the intent to bring Justin home and slaughter anyone who stands in their way.
Director Kevin (Saw X) Greutert kicks things off with a solid Halloween-inspired opening shown from a killer’s POV. After a while, the film turns into a siege movie. Think Split Image meets The Strangers. I find cult mentalities and deprogramming fascinating so I may have enjoyed this one more than the general consensus. I also have a small place in my heart for siege films too, so again your enjoyment for this nasty piece of work may differ from mine.
Greutert delivers a three chords suspense picture that hits the right notes and contains at least one strong jump scare. He maintains a claustrophobic atmosphere throughout and keeps the pace moving with precision. Most of the family’s strife is unpleasant, but that just adds to the overall tension. Also interesting is the fact that the script deliberately leaves the cult’s intentions and beliefs vague. They just want Justin. Honestly, I admire the stripped-down approach, especially when it’s in favor of delivering shocks.
Jackals also features a solid cast. Dorff is a standout as the gruff but focused deprogrammer. Jonathan Schaech and Debra Kara Unger are both excellent as the parents too. Sullivan is also quite good as the brainwashed son.
This is not a fun movie. It is often sadistic and nihilistic. It is also quite effective and unsettling. If you don’t want to be disturbed, then steer clear at all costs. However, for those with steely resolve, Jackals is a heck of a ride.
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