Larry Cohen’s God Told Me To (1976) is the kind of movie that slinks into your subconscious like an uninvited dinner guest who refuses to leave until you’ve questioned every major life decision. It’s a theological fever dream wrapped in a sci-fi conspiracy and stuffed inside a cop drama—like The Exorcist met Chinatown and got abducted by aliens along the way. With a blend of police procedural grit, religious paranoia, and Cohen’s usual brand of gonzo filmmaking, it’s a film that aims high, lands somewhere between brilliance and chaos, and leaves you staring at your screen thinking, “Did I just watch a gritty crime thriller or an extended Twilight Zone episode with a drinking problem?”
The Bible, Aliens, and a Guy Who Just Didn’t Care
Larry Cohen, never one to turn down a high-concept, low-budget thrill ride, took inspiration for this cinematic acid trip from two sources: the Bible and Chariots of the Gods. Yes, Cohen took one look at the Good Book and said, “You know what would make this better? Murderous messiahs and virgin births via UFO.” The result? A movie where divine intervention isn’t just a plot device—it’s an extraterrestrial recruitment strategy.
The film was backed by Edgar Scherick and Daniel Blatt, who, upon seeing the final cut, promptly demanded their names be taken off it—perhaps a sign that Cohen’s vision was just a little too out there, even for 1970s Hollywood. It was shot guerrilla-style in New York City, meaning permits were as nonexistent as the boundaries of Cohen’s imagination. This was a man who, instead of dealing with red tape, simply rolled cameras and hoped nobody noticed—like an indie filmmaker with a vendetta against legal processes.
Casting, Production, and a Parade of Chaos
Originally, the lead role of NYPD detective Peter Nicholas went to Robert Forster, but a few days in, he and Cohen had a creative “disagreement” (read: Forster got tired of Cohen’s on-set shouting and walked). Enter Tony Lo Bianco, who took over and delivered a performance that teeters between hardboiled detective and a guy who just found out his Uber driver is actually a reptilian overlord.
Then there’s Richard Lynch as Bernard Phillips, an androgynous, telepathic, possibly divine entity who wants to birth a new species with his half-brother. It’s a role that somehow manages to be both unsettling and oddly convincing—like if David Bowie had decided to start a cult instead of a music career.
Oh, and Andy Kaufman makes his big-screen debut as a police officer who opens fire on the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Cohen, in his infinite wisdom, had no permit for this scene, meaning Kaufman, in full uniform, nearly got mobbed by actual parade-goers. It’s a moment of pure Cohen—equal parts reckless and brilliant, where real-world chaos and fictional lunacy collide.
Cult Classic or Just a Cult?
Upon release, God Told Me To was met with the kind of reception usually reserved for suspicious meat in a cafeteria. Roger Ebert, never one to mince words, awarded it a single lonely star, likely while clutching his pearls and muttering about cinema’s decline. But like all misunderstood weirdos in film history, this one aged into cult status, eventually landing on Rolling Stone’s list of “20 Scariest Films You’ve Never Seen.”
Critics at the time dismissed it as too bizarre, too unfocused, and too unhinged—essentially Cohen’s entire brand. But in an era where horror now consists mostly of “elevated” indie fare or recycled jump scares, God Told Me To stands out for having the audacity to be batshit crazy on purpose.
Divine Madness, But Make It Cinema
At its core, God Told Me To is a film that asks, “What if God was a creepy alien being with a secret agenda?”—which is probably not the sermon your local priest would appreciate. It’s not perfect. It’s not even coherent at times. But it’s ambitious, it’s unsettling, and it’s a prime example of Cohen’s knack for turning B-movie schlock into something strangely profound.
So, should you watch it? That depends. Do you like your horror with a side of existential dread and UFO conspiracies? Do you think The X-Files would have been better if David Duchovny occasionally screamed at the sky? If so, step right up—because Larry Cohen has a sermon for you.
So, if an omnipotent being whispered in your ear and told you to watch this, would you listen?
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
#CultCinema #GodToldMeTo #WhatDidGodTellYou #PermitsAreForCowards #AlienMessiahs #ReligiousHorror #RogerEbertWasNotAMused
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