God Told Me To (1976)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(1,774 ratings)

Released theatrically as God Told Me To, this inventive film from "B"-movie auteur Larry Cohen was later re-named Demon after television distributors refused to air it under the original title. The convoluted, tabloid-flavored storyline (predating the kind of stories frequently featured on The… More Released theatrically as God Told Me To, this inventive film from "B"-movie auteur Larry Cohen was later re-named Demon after television distributors refused to air it under the original title. The convoluted, tabloid-flavored storyline (predating the kind of stories frequently featured on The X-Files) involves a series of motiveless murders committed by various New York residents: a sniper picks off targets from a water tower; a mild-mannered father murders his entire family; and a cop (Andy Kaufman, of all people) opens fire during a St. Patrick's Day parade. The only consistent pattern to the crimes involves the perpetrators' calm admissions of guilt, explaining, "God told me to." While investigating the murders, devoutly-Catholic police detective Peter Nicholas (Tony Lo Bianco) is increasingly troubled by evidence of 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 inexplicably linked to this mysterious being. As he comes closer to the truth, his worst fears are confirmed -- particularly after a telling conversation with Bernard's tormented mother (Sylvia Sidney), who reveals the horrifying secret of her son's unnatural birth. Cohen has often used the "B"-movie format to address rather lofty concepts, and this is certainly no exception -- tackling no less than the existence of God and the nature of human beliefs -- but clumsy editing and an outrageous FX-heavy finale tend to obscure this film's unique vision. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Larry Cohen
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1976 Wide
On DVD: Aug 26, 2003
Studio: Unknown

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Possibly the Cohen joint that brims with the most all-pervasive invention and danger
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
Intriguing but exasperatingly uneven.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An upsetting film not meant for the timid.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Though not among Larry Cohen's most wholly satisfying productions, God Told Me To should prove a worthwhile curiosity to fans of 70's era horror movies told with a decidedly 'cop flick' feel.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Not Cohen's best, but perversely fascinating
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
only those who are intensely religious will be offended; the rest of us can just smile at the film's simple and entertaining absurdity

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

I can't honestly say I enjoyed this, not entirely anyways. It had a few good moments in it, but not enough to warrant repeated viewings. It started out ok, with everybody getting shot at random...it was actually quite comical. :) I'm still confused on the whole… More
I can't honestly say I enjoyed this, not entirely anyways. It had a few good moments in it, but not enough to warrant repeated viewings. It started out ok, with everybody getting shot at random...it was actually quite comical. :) I'm still confused on the whole God/Alien/Supreme Being device in the plot, but oh well. It was an interesting attempt anyway.
Lafe F

Freaky, almost an exploitation film about people committing random acts of violence because "God told me to kill." is what they would always say when caught. A detective investigates the strange rash of killings, and then things go off into an unbelievable direction where… More
Freaky, almost an exploitation film about people committing random acts of violence because "God told me to kill." is what they would always say when caught. A detective investigates the strange rash of killings, and then things go off into an unbelievable direction where the detective finds this "god" is more than he ever imagined it would be. A freaky hellish ending. It worked. I felt creeped out. OMG!
ken j

God Told Me To starts off really well but somehow takes a wrong turn during the second act and left me kinda confused. A sniper shoots 14 people, a husband kills his wife and son and a cop opens fire on a parade route each one before they die say *GOD TOLD ME TO* now a cop much… More
God Told Me To starts off really well but somehow takes a wrong turn during the second act and left me kinda confused. A sniper shoots 14 people, a husband kills his wife and son and a cop opens fire on a parade route each one before they die say *GOD TOLD ME TO* now a cop much investigate these crimes were all these people crazy? or did they really hear the voice of god? well acted movie good direction by Cohen just takes a dive towards the end still worth a watch for Cohen fans and fans of non bloody suspenseful horror

Cast

            Mason Adams as Obstetrician

            Harry Bellaver as Cookie

            Tony Lo Bianco as Peter Nicholas

            Sandy Dennis as Martha Nicholas

            Robert Drivas as David Morten

            James Dukas as Doorman

            Al Fann
            
            John Heffernan as Bramwell

            Andy Kaufman as Police Assassin

            Mike Kellin as Deputy Commissioner

            Sam Levene as Everett Lukas

            Richard Lynch as Bernard Phillips

            Robert Nichols as Fletcher

            George Patterson as Zero

            Deborah Raffin as Casey Forster

            Lester Rawlins as Board Chairman

            Dan Resin
            
            William Roerick as Richard

            Sylvia Sidney as Elizabeth Mullin

            Watter Steele as Junkie

            Sherry Steiner as Bernard's Mother as a Young Woman

            Vida Taylor as Miss Mullin as a Girl

            James Dixon
            
            Peter Hock
            
            Randy Jurgensen as Detective Squad

            Harry Madsen
            
            Alex Stevens
            
            Alan Cauldwell as Bramwell as a Youth

            Bobby Ramsen
            
            Jo Flores Chase
            
            Sammy Williams
            
            John 5
            
See full cast