The Sacrifice (2005 film)
Encyclopedia
The Sacrifice is an independent film
by James Fessenden that was first shown at Gaylaxicon
in 2005. It is a horror
/psychological thriller
that centers on a high school
boy who becomes embroiled in an occult
mystery in a quiet New Hampshire
town.
and withdrawn. When he moves with his mother to the small New Hampshire town of Dunkirk, he is immediately drawn to David (David Snyder
), a boy who shares his interest in the occult.
But when the boys try to satisfy their curiosity about a local ghost story, they discover that somebody is digging up graves in the oldest part of the cemetery, collecting human remains for a dark ritual.
The plot then revolves around the two boys' exploration of the town's surprisingly dark history while the ritual (and planned human sacrifice
) approaches.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
by James Fessenden that was first shown at Gaylaxicon
Gaylaxicon
Gaylaxicon is an annual science fiction, fantasy and horror convention that focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics. It takes place in various locations in the United States and occasionally Canada, often on the east coast....
in 2005. It is a horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
/psychological thriller
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
that centers on a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
boy who becomes embroiled in an occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
mystery in a quiet New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
town.
Plot
Three years after the death of his father, 16-year-old Jonathan Kelly (Robert Kersey) is still depressedClinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and withdrawn. When he moves with his mother to the small New Hampshire town of Dunkirk, he is immediately drawn to David (David Snyder
David Snyder
David L. Snyder is a film and television production designer. He was nominated for Best Art Direction for his work on Blade Runner at the 55th Annual Academy Awards...
), a boy who shares his interest in the occult.
But when the boys try to satisfy their curiosity about a local ghost story, they discover that somebody is digging up graves in the oldest part of the cemetery, collecting human remains for a dark ritual.
The plot then revolves around the two boys' exploration of the town's surprisingly dark history while the ritual (and planned human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
) approaches.
Trivia
- The scene where Jonathan and David kiss was added after the first viewings of the film, by popular demand. Previously, the attraction between the two was only implied.
- Much of the film was shot in and around DoverDover, New HampshireDover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
and Derry, New HampshireDerry, New Hampshire-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 33,109 people, 12,537 households, and 8,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 924.8 people per square mile . There were 13,277 housing units at an average density of 143.2/km²...