Cult Hero – A Twisted Wellness Retreat You’ll Want to Escape From

If you’ve ever been stuck in a seminar where the guru smiles just a little too wide, Cult Hero will hit that nerve. Directed by Jesse Thomas Cook, written by Tony Burgess, Liv Collins, and Cook himself, the film takes the bones of a wellness retreat-gone-wrong story and cranks it to neon absurdity. With Collins front and center as Kallie Jones, a control freak who can’t let her husband breathe without oversight, the movie paints a hilariously biting picture of modern relationships and the industries that prey on our insecurities.

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When Self-Help Turns to Self-Destruction

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Her husband, Brad (Ry Barrett,) is the epitome of “Brad the Broken”, the guy who just wants out, even if it means attempting something drastic in his car. His escape leads him into the arms of Hope Hills, a wellness center promising “ascension,” which in cinematic terms, reads as one long red flag.

Enter Dale Dumazar – Cult Buster With a Bomber Jacket

Every good cult movie needs a foil, and that’s where Dale Dumazar (Tony Burgess) steps in. Once the darling of daytime TV, now a disgraced cult-busting figure living off his faded 80s glory, Dale is both parody and powerhouse. With oversized shades, a bomber jacket, and hair frozen in Aqua Net defiance, his entrance immediately shifts the tone into gonzo territory.

His commentary sequences, styled like reality TV or podcasts, are a wink at how cult culture has become a form of media consumption itself. It’s a clever stroke, mixing satire with camp, and it makes Dale less a savior figure and more a burnt-out commentator trying to reclaim relevance.

Cinematic Glow, Screaming Chaos, and a Wig or Two

What sets Cult Hero apart from the countless “cult-gone-bad” thrillers is its cinematography. The camera often frames characters with a purposeful glow, catching every raised eyebrow, every twisted smirk, every breakdown in full detail. There’s beauty in how garish it all looks—like a cheap infomercial filmed with art-house pretensions.

But be warned: the film thrives on chaos. From shouting matches to over-the-top tantrums (Liv Collins’ Kallie could give Karen memes a run for their money), the film risks exhausting viewers with its volume. Still, between cult chants of “may we ascend,” vitamin C dinner rituals, and a rival real-estate agent subplot (Cynthia Doyle, gleefully smarmy), there’s always something happening.

And yes, the wig work deserves its own mention, bad, but knowingly bad.

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Overlong, Over-the-Top, Yet Weirdly Charming

Not every choice lands. The runtime could’ve been sliced down for sharper impact, and sometimes the wall of noise dulls the intended satire. But for lovers of cult cinema that isn’t afraid to throw every idea at the screen, supernatural hints, phallic ritual threats, and a saccharine ending where Brad and Kallie literally buy the dream house, it’s a ride worth taking.

Cult Hero never pretends to be subtle. Instead, it leans into its absurdities until you can’t help but smirk. And for independent genre fans, that’s the fun.

Final Verdict

Cult Hero is a campy, chaotic dive into cult mentality and toxic marriage dynamics. While it might run a little long, its mix of satire, bizarre rituals, and a washed-up cult buster makes for a cult movie that actually earns the label.

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Raven Banner trailer for Cult Hero

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Film Info

• Director: Jesse Thomas Cook
• Writers: Tony Burgess, Liv Collins, Jesse Thomas Cook
• Cast: Liv Collins, Ry Barrett, Tony Burgess
• Distribution: Dhananjay Galani Production / Raven Banner Entertainment Produced by: Collingwood Film Co.
• Release Date: Fantasia Festival run 2022, wider release 2023
• Film Title: Cult Hero
• Review by: Mother of Movies

• Collingwood Film Company has more information and titles
• Review by Movie Meister for Cult Hero

Cult Hero is rated
3½ Ascensions with a side of Vitamin C out of 5