Das Ritual (1987)

Das Ritual: Directed by John Schlesinger. With Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Harley Cross, Robert Loggia. A New York psychiatrist finds that a brujería-inspired cult, which believes in child sacrifice, has a keen interest in his own son.

“Cal Jamison (Martin Sheen) loses his wife in an accidental electrocution. He moves with his son Chris to NYC as a psychiatrist for the police department. Jessica Halliday (Helen Shaver) is their landlady. His lawyer Marty Wertheimer (Richard Masur) wants to sue the coffeemaker company. Lt. McTaggert (Robert Loggia) investigates a child murder with disturbed undercover cop Tom Lopez (Jimmy Smits) at the scene. Lopez is convinced that some unknown group will kill him and tries to shoot himself. Cal is called in to investigate the voodoo murder. Palo (Malick Bowens) is the ever present voodoo evil. Calu0026#39;s housekeeper tries to protect the family with her good voodoo.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe use of religion is going to anger some people and color some reviews. I guess almost any movie can cause offense if taken that way. It starts off as a crime thriller. It seems to go slowly but methodically. Then it turns more towards horror and itu0026#39;s quite effective. There are some good voodoo horrors. The two hours running time is a little long but itu0026#39;s got some good creepy scares.”