Despite starting off with a not-so-original premise, "A Sacrifice" spirals down into a monotonous fest of forgettable storytelling. The film becomes uninteresting fast, even before its shift from mundane to absolute mayhem in the final act. This diverts it from a mere forgettable film to a frustrating experience, agitating anyone who invested time in the plot.
The protagonist of the story is social psychologist Ben Monroe, played by Eric Bana. After separating from his wife, Ben shifts to Berlin and, while engrossed in his new book on groupthink, he coincidentally stumbles upon a group suicide under investigation by a local cop named Nina, who Ben later becomes romantically involved with. Meanwhile, Ben's 16-year-old daughter, Mazzy, visits him in Berlin and befriends Martin, a local young man. He introduces her to a charismatic group led by Hilda, the same cult Ben is investigating.
There are many movies that have skillfully portrayed the manipulative nature of cults and how they exploit susceptible individuals. These films studied this phenomenon without using it merely as a plot device. But sadly, "A Sacrifice" shows no such inclination, treating this complex psychological state in an entirely superficial way. Helmed by debutante writer-director Jordan Scott, the film displays a clinical detachment towards the material and the performances by an otherwise talented cast are lackluster.
The climax of the movie brings an unrealistic conclusion and lacks the shock value that viewers might anticipate. This is due to the film squandering any serious topics it might have aimed to highlight and instead opting to conclude the story with a tawdry race-against-the-clock climax.
Watching "A Sacrifice" is akin to seeing an extra-long episode of a procedural series that has already overstayed its welcome. The lack of engagement on the part of the creators leads to the viewers also losing interest. Even when the film attempts to venture on an edgy path towards its end, it fails to generate any intrigue. In short, "A Sacrifice" seems to be destined to become a filler in the background rather than a captivating watch.
