Split Image

R

1982

1h 51m

Drama

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Reviews

71%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Parents pay a deprogrammer (James Woods) to free their son (Michael O'Keefe) who has joined a cult with his girlfriend (Karen Allen).

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SICKS6SIX

It's 1982 in the USA and the main man comes from the all American family, mum, dad, sister, black maid, Mexican pool cleaner and dog who live in a detached home with lawns and a garage, the American dream, but something is missing in the life of Danny the son, he meets and is seduced into becoming a member of a religious cult, the story centres around him and trying to get him back to his amazingly all American life (why would someone not want that) so a minority steels one life, question could also be when the majority steels many life's (you might not get that) simply put someone's a member of a religious cult and his family think he should be with them and not the cult, we have seen it many times on TV news during the 1970s those terrible religions that offered love, friendship, kindness, respect and space to kids who didn't get it at home, I used to think if these cults are so bad it must be really shit at home with mom and dad, the stereotyping of people in this film is its main problem for me but its still worth watching, better than lets say a Tom Cruise film where he flies fast planes, or any Rambo movie, but it's not one flew over the cuckoos nest

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/08/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Given the numerous compelling documentaries that have been made since this movie was released regarding escaping cults and the deprogramming the survivors require, this movie is a very shallow attempt to the nature of cults and the damage they can do. In this instance, reality is stranger than fiction. While the acting is good given the limited source material, the characters themselves seem more like caricatures attempting to behave in a way they do not completely understand. I would suggest watching the documentaries over this movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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delysid d

hello i want to start my own cult

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/17/20

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Audience Member

This movie was made in 1982. Back then cults were a problem in many communities and this movie was very good for its time. It has held up okay better than other films in the same time period. It seems to be underestimated and long forgotten. Cults are not as big of deal today as there were in the late 70's early 80's so perhaps that is part of it. This film gives a small peek at some of the tactics used to brainwash people and get them involved in cults. I enjoy this movie as I saw it at a young age and never forgot James Woods foul mouthed rant during the de-programming of "Danny/Joshua". Watching it years later I still enjoy this movie. It is an interesting topic to me on how people get involved in cults.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

I lived this in Potters House. Even the van scene (Holfords Van).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Has not aged well. The only passable performance is by James Woods, who has also not aged well.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/27/18

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Ted Kotcheff

Director

Michael O'Keefe

Danny `'Joshua'` Stetson

Karen Allen

Rebecca

James Woods

Charles Pratt

Scott Spencer

Screenwriter

Robert Kaufman

Screenwriter

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The solution is a bit pat and anticlimactic, but it is heartening to find a movie that concerns itself with real and present social issues.

Oct 22, 2018

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Susan Shapiro

Sojourner

Split Image portrays women and men in the same old stereotypes: women get us into trouble; men get us out of it; women have limited depth and ability; men can do almost anything if they have enough determination.

Aug 20, 2019

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Synopsis

Parents pay a deprogrammer (James Woods) to free their son (Michael O'Keefe) who has joined a cult with his girlfriend (Karen Allen).

Director: Ted Kotcheff
Producer: Jeff Young
Screenwriter: Scott Spencer, Robert Kaufman, Robert Mark Kamen
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 9, 2016
Runtime: 1h 51m

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