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God Told Me To (1976)

   
Produced, Written & Directed by: Larry Cohen

Starring:

Tony Lo Bianco .... Det. Lt. Peter J. Nicholas
Sandy Dennis .... Martha Nicholas
Sam Levene .... Everett Lukas
Robert Drivas .... David Mortan
Mike Kellin .... Deputy Police Commissioner
Deborah Raffin .... Casey Forster
William Roerick .... Richards
Robert Nichols .... Fletcher

Special Appearances:

Richard Lynch .... Bernard Phillips
Sylvia Sidney .... Elizabeth Mullin

Cameo:


Andy Kauffman .... Police Officer


Release Date:
Theatrical: November, 1976

*Images courtesy at: www.cryptofthedead.com

Rating:

 

An aggressive New York catholic police detective named Peter J. Nicholas (Tony Lo Bianco) discovers that a bunch of people are being shot and killed by a disturbed man named Harold Gorman (Sammy Williams) who is shooting people with a shotgun on top of a water tower and tries to stop him and asked him why he is doing this. He tells him that God told him to and then jumps off the watertower building.
Later on he discovers other killings by people before they die or take their lives telling him the same thing at a St Patricks Day Parade which was started by a police officer and a father murdering his entire family which adds up to a Christ-like figure named Bernard Phillips (Richard Lynch) who appeared to each of the killers and can't seem to shake the feeling that his own fate is somewhat linked to this mysterious being. As he comes closer to the truth, his worst fears are confirmed as the people around him behave strangely as well as himself.

 

A very strange tale in the same likes as the Exorcist and the Omen but yet the story really doesn't make sense as to why this was all happening towards the end as well as a flashback sequence of a UFO and a naked woman which makes it even more confusing and not the least bit scary during most of this storyline.
It is an interesting story showing people being evil and killing thinking that God is controlling them to do all of this macabre even if this film wasn't exactly a mainstream film.

The acting is is nicely performed I must say as lead actor Tony Lo Bianco was perfect for his role as an aggressive tough as nails detective bringing everything he's got to his part. Well done Tony.
Deborah Raffin
came across well with her part and looked great too.
Sandy Dennis
brings part to her role as someone a little disturbed as a housewife in which she portrayed nicely.
Supporting actress Sylvia Sydney brought alot to her part even if it was only about 5 minutes long knowing how to act like a disturbed elderly woman.
Mike Kellin
seems to breeze through nicely as a serious cop and pulls it off well but like many of his performances he seems to be the same but he was never terrible in any of them.
We even have a first time bit part by Andy Kauffman as an officer who was well remembered for his line saying GOD TOLD ME TO before he dies in a parade bringing it across very well.

Vida Taylor is full nude in a flashback scene running towards a car to get in and there's another scene with her entering some sort of a space ship.

Some bloody gunshots and slit throats but thats about it folks

We have great shots on the extra's being shot brutally in the city and them running away.
There's a real tense dialgoue sequence between Tony Lo Bianco and supporting actor Sammy Williams at a water tower with suspenseful shots on both of them way high up on the building which looks a little creepy for anyone who's afraid of heights.
A nice shot on Williams pointing his shotgun as well as him doing his speech to why he did this stuff and a good look at him jumping off.
We have a good shot on Bianco falling down some stairs while being attacked which looked good as well as him screaming in rage to demand why he was attacked.
We have a great black & white flashback sequence that involves supporting actors Vida Taylor running into a car naked and Alan Cauldwell driving the vehicle being sarcastic at times by what she's telling him which looked nicely performed and very old fashioned like.
There's a good setting with Deborah Raffin in a room with Mike Kellin trying to talk to her along with some other supporting actors which looked quite descent and she does well getting ticked by what he's asking her.
There are many moments that Cohen coached many of his supporting acting well when they start to suffocate when something deadly happens to them as well.
There's a great setting on Bianco in a room with some bizarre lighting effects as well as being caught in a fire.
We have a disturbing dialogue between Bianco and supporting actress Sylvia Sidney as she really knew how to act upset about discussing her past with him to what happened with her and then she really was great by being paranoid when Bianco tries to calm her down.
We spot perfect shots with Bianco and supporting actor Harry Bellaver when Bellaver as a pimp tries to threaten him with a knife in a Harlem pool hall and a great close up shot on Bianco with having cold expressionless looks at him looking very demonic like. Bellaver does well by suffering and cutting his own throat which looked very possessive.
We spot a strange setting between Richard Lynch as a demonic type and Bianco and Bianco does well by attacking him and burning down the building he was inside of.

Lots of great classical composing and good violin playing with some good fast pacing all composed by Frank Cordell as he makes the music fitting for the story.