World-Renowned Psychotherapist Meets His Match in ‘Linda Blair And The Exorcist’ Patient
Saying goodbye to aonce-famous chapter in his life as a psychotherapist, Dr. Ansel Roth (Leland Orser) now has no other choice but to go low-profile again and opts to give a lecture on his new book “Sects, Cults and Mind Control.” In need of money to pay his rent, Dr. Roth accepts the offer of Evelyn (Beth Grant) and Terry (Chris Ellis) to help their daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to be free of the clutches of the mysterious cult called Faults.
The parents are so desperate they immediately agree to Ansel’s expensive fee despite the warning that his odds of success are only 50-50. After collecting a handsome advance, he proceeds to snatch Claire off the street into a van with the help of a couple of goons. The plan is to restrain her in a remote motel for the five days it should take to undo the indoctrination. And while Ansel is alone in one room with Claire, her folks wait in the one right next-door, anxiously anticipating a happy reunion.
The plot thickens, however, as it becomes clear that increasingly-exasperated Ansel isn’t up to the task. To the contrary, it appears that Claire might even be getting the better of their intense sessions.
The shrink arrogantly threatens to stop the sessions unless he’s paid the balance of his bill. So unfolds Faults, an intriguing treat that walks a fine line between dark comedy and psychological thriller.
This film marks the feature-length writing and directorial debut of Riley Stearns, whose real-life wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, squares-off here as Claire opposite her gifted co-star, Leland Orser.
Cooped up together in very close quarters, the two gradually ramp up the intensity in an ever-escalating game of cat-and-mouse, vaguely evocative of Linda Blair and the Exorcist. Don’t be surprised if the tables are turned and the hunter is somehow bested by the game.
A mind is a terrible thing to lose!
Faults
Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated Running time: 89 minutes
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Watch the Faults trailer:
