Faults (2014)

Hired to deprogram a young woman who has fallen victim to an abusive cult, an expert in mind control techniques starts to question whether or not there is actually some value to her cult in this curious independent film. From the outset, the movie seems like a contemporary updating of the likes of 'Split Image' and 'Ticket to Heaven' -- two sensational films from the early 1980s about rescuing youths from religious cults -- but the results here are decidedly different as the film ends up as anything but a straight drama. There are elements of comedy, drama, mystery, thriller, horror and even fantasy throughout, and while all this genre-hopping is sometimes detrimental (none of the comedy really works and the scenes with the protagonist's publisher and his hired goon do not quite fit in) for the most part, the multi-genre style renders the film a perfectly unsettling experience. As a viewer, we never feel entirely in control, placed on the exact same level as the protagonist with all his doubts and insecurities. Speaking of which, Leland Orser is excellent in the role. While he initially seems money-grubbing and pathetic, he gradually becomes a sympathetic lonely soul for whom the world seems to have turned against. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (best known as McClane's daughter in the 'Die Hard' series) is also superb as the young cultist. As for the rest of the film, it is best viewed with minimal plot expectations. Suffice it to say though, the ending is endlessly creepy and for a film that is not overtly horror, the chill that 'Faults' sends down the spine is incredible.

Fmovies: Ansel (Leland Orser) is a failed expert on cults, once widely regarded for his books and television show and his ability to "deprogram" those brainwashed by cult leaders, but now - after a spectacular failure - he is barely making it through the day by selling another, shoddier book and giving "seminars" at dumpy hotels in return for a room and a meal. When an older couple approaches him to ask for his help in restoring their cult-taken daughter Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), he reluctantly agrees, only because his former manager is hounding him for a rather large sum of money that Ansel owes. With some help, he kidnaps Claire and begins the process of deprogramming her in an anonymous hotel room, but it soon becomes unclear as to who is treating whom....

This is kind of a strange movie, neither fish nor fowl as they used to say; in some parts, it's quite funny and absurdist, and in other parts, it's deadly serious. Unfortunately, the two aspects of the film never quite jelled for me. The acting is fine throughout (though it's odd that the IMDb doesn't name the actor playing Claire's father!) and the sort of quietly desperate, slightly sleazy world which the characters inhabit is shown well, but I was left scratching my head at the end of it, going "huh?" A bit disappointing, really.

Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is under the grip of a mysterious new cult called Faults. Desperate to be reunited with their daughter, Claire's parents recruit one of the world's foremost experts on mind control, Ansel Roth (Leland Orser).

Writer-director Riley Stearns cited Paul Thomas Anderson's works, namely "Punch-Drunk Love", the Coen Brothers' "Fargo", Yorgos Lanthimos' "Dogtooth" and "Alps" among the many works he was inspired by. To prepare themselves for the role, Winstead and Orser read the book "Let Our Children Go" by Ted Patrick and watched YouTube videos from that era of people in cults or people who had just gotten out of cults. They had both also created their own backstories for their characters based on Stearns' script.

Jon Gries has a smaller role, but it is always nice to see his smiling face. I wanted this film to be a bit better than it was. The first half was very good. In fact, the opening scene was the best part. You can never go wrong with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, but there could have been a little something more here.

Faults fmovies. Original, well acted, and well produced/edited.

This film is well worth seeing if you like original, well produced movies.

From the beginning you are never really sure where the characters are heading - until the end.

The characters draw you into their world and keep you there. Each event and emotion portrayed by brilliant acting. I had never seen any of the cast in previous movies, so it was refreshing seeing new faces (to me) bring the story to life.

Whatever expectations you have for this film just forget them and let the story telling take you where it is going to go.

"Fault is a fracture. It's a place where pressure builds until it releases."

Leland Orser and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star together in this unique dramatic thriller written and directed by Winstead's husband, Riley Stearns. Faults is his feature debut and after this, there is no doubt he's going to be getting more offers because it is a very inventive drama that feels like no other movie because it changes and morphs as the story progresses. It is hard to classify this film because it doesn't feel like any other movie I've seen. Orser plays Ansel Roth, an expert on mind control, but it is clear that his glory days are long behind him. When we are introduced to him he's trying to reuse a coupon for his meal at the hotel where he's giving a speech on his new book about free will. There are very few people who have signed up for his seminar and he's evidently in deep financial trouble. An opportunity for redemption shows up when a couple (played by Chris Ellis and Beth Grant) ask Ansel to help them with their daughter. They say she has changed dramatically after finding a mysterious cult and that they are afraid of losing her. Ansel tells them that he can help but that it is going to cost them. He plans on deprogramming her by kidnapping her and having a five day session with her at an undisclosed location. The girl's name is Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and she claims to be at the happiest point in her life so apparently it won't be an easy job for Ansel who is going through his personal lowest. What follows is a fascinating psychological control study with touches of dark humor and several twists along the way. The less you know about the film going into it the better off you are.

The production team behind Faults is the same one that brought us last year's The Guest and the reinvented slasher horror film You're Next so I was already excited about this film. They present unique projects that at times blend familiar genres or include some sort of surprise element along the way. Faults is a low budget indie film but it never ceases to amaze with a production design that sets the film somewhere around the early 80's although there is no mention of when the story actually takes place. The film is perfectly executed, it has an interesting premise, and the screenplay is beautifully written by Riley Stearns as it transforms along the way. It's not one of those films that tries to fool the audience and then presents a twist that no matter how many times you go back and rewatch it it simply doesn't make any sense. Faults isn't trying to fool us, instead it is simply telling a story that unfolds in unexpected ways as we reach the climactic finale.

Perhaps what stands out the most in Faults are the two leading performances. Leland Orser delivers the best role of his career and it is great to finally see him in a starring role. His character isn't someone we should really sympathize with considering he's simply miserable from the moment we are introduced to him. He's such a loser but somehow Orser manages to engage us and we want him to have his shot at redemption. We believe he actually knows his stuff on mind control and free will but life has given him an unexpected blow that he seems to be able to recover from. On the other hand Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Claire is enigmatic and we never know what she is really thinking. Winstead delivers one of the best performances of her career as well and the two turn Faults into a high

Riley Stearns... who have already directed a few short films, Debuts in direction of real length movies with this movie. The story revolve around a cult group called Faults and two characters... Ansel Roth who is a former very famous expert on cults and psychology... and Claire whose parents approach Ansel in desperation to get their daughter back from the cult... Ansel... who too is desperate for some money accepts the offer... but the story takes a seriously amazing turn when we see that this is way more than just a treatment. direction is pretty awesome for a Debutant... acting is really very good... Stearns proves to be a promising director by making a great classic about cults....