View source for Altar (2016 film)

{{Infobox film
| name           = Altar
| image          = Altar (2016 film).jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Poster
| native_name    = <!-- {{Infobox name module|language|title}} or {{Infobox name module|title}} -->
| director       = Matt Sconce
| writer         = Matt Sconce
| screenplay     = 
| story          = 
| based_on       = <!-- {{Based on|title of the original work|creator of the original work|additional creator(s), if necessary}} -->
| producer       = 
| starring       = 
| narrator       = 
| cinematography = Matt Sconce
| editing        = Matt Sconce
| music          = 
| studio         = 
| distributor    = Film Volt
| released       = {{Film date|2016}}
| runtime        = 
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = 
}}

'''''Altar''''' is a 2016 [[Found footage (film technique)|found footage]] horror movie that was written and directed by Matt Sconce.  

Sconce has voiced interest in creating a sequel entitled ''Altar: Unleashed'' if the film were to perform well.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Derek |date=2017-08-04 |title=Q&A: Director Matt Sconce on Encountering Wildlife & Utilizing Improvisation for His Found Footage Horror Film ALTAR |url=https://dailydead.com/qa-matt-sconce-on-encountering-wildlife-utilizing-improvisation-for-his-found-footage-horror-film-altar/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Daily Dead |language=en-US}}</ref> 

==Synopsis==
The film follows Maisy and her friends, who have gathered together to search through a remote forest for a couple who has gone missing. Along for the trip is Maisy's [[Autism|autistic]] brother Bo, who is recording the proceedings. The group's car breaks down during the car trip, at which point a strange local man named Ripper stops and menacingly warns them to return home. The group ignore him and continue on, choosing to camp in the same forest where their friends went missing. As the film progresses tensions in the group rise, particularly after they discover a strange altar and a bloodied, abandoned campsite. The group decides to try and hike back to civilization, however as they travel they find themselves getting picked off one by one. The film ends with Bo getting possessed by a supernatural entity via a stone he obtained from the altar and slaughtering his sister Maisy before wandering off on his own. 

==Cast==
* Stefanie Estes as Maisy Marks
* Jesse Parr as Bo Marks
* Deep Singh as Ravi Dara
* Brittany Falardeau as Chelsea Rich
* Tim Parrish as Asher James
* Jessica Strand as Pamela Kensington
* Dave Johnson as Dave Phillips
* Catherine Wilcox as Stephanie Phillips
* Michael Wainwright as Ripper

==Development==
Filming for ''Altar'' took place in [[Oakhurst, California|Oakhurst]] and [[Bass Lake, California|Bass Lake]], California. Rather than utilize a traditional script, Sconce chose to have his actors [[Improvisational theatre|improv]] their lines based on a tight outline. He also had the actors carpool together from Los Angeles to the filming site so their interactions would appear more natural.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Flanagan |first=Kellie |date=2017-05-10 |title=Premiere Of Matt Sconce Horror Film, “Altar” |url=https://sierranewsonline.com/premiere-of-matt-sconce-horror-film-altar/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Sierra News Online |language=en |archive-date=2025-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501184156/https://sierranewsonline.com/premiere-of-matt-sconce-horror-film-altar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Filming for the summer scenes took place over a period of three days; the winter scenes took two.<ref name=":0" /> 

==Release==
''Altar'' screened at several film festivals during 2016 before having a premiere on May 17, 2017 at the Crest Theatre in [[Fresno, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-06 |title=Locally Filmed Movie Altar Has Red Carpet Premiere |url=https://kingsriverlife.com/05/06/locally-filmed-movie-altar-has-red-carpet-premiere/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Kings River Life Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501184156/https://kingsriverlife.com/05/06/locally-filmed-movie-altar-has-red-carpet-premiere/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> 

==Reception==
Common elements of praise for the film centered around Jesse Parr as Bo, as well as the characters acting in a way the reviewers felt would be realistic for the scenario.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeFellipo |first=Michael |date=June 30, 2017 |title=Review: Matt Sconce’s Altar |url=https://www.horrorsociety.com/2017/06/30/review-matt-sconces-altar/ |website=Horror Society}}</ref> Criticism focused on the film largely retreading familiar ground in the found footage horror subgenre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2017 |title=AICN HORROR looks at a flock of found footagers THE PHOENIX INCIDENT! AMITYVILLE: NO ESCAPE! THE GRACEFIELD INCIDENT! ALTAR! THE DARK TAPES! Plus BONEJANGLES! ANOTHER EVIL! THE DUNGEONMASTER! AMERICAN FABLE! THE ALCHEMIST COOKBOOK! & MEDDLING KIDS Novel! |url=https://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/78217#4 |website=AICN |access-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202124837/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/78217#4 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Scott |date=2017-08-13 |title=Altar (2016) Movie Review: Just More of the Same? |url=https://pophorror.com/altar-2016-review/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=PopHorror |language=en-US}}</ref> Matt Boiselle of [[Dread Central]] noted that the film "begs one watch for those who really dig these types of films, and while it won’t knock your flip-flops off, it’ll at least satiate the found-footage viewer for a short spell until the next bout of motion-sickness decides to infiltrate our DVD and Blu-ray players."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boiselle |first=Matt |date=2017-08-08 |title=Altar (2017) |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/243385/altar-2017/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501184156/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/243385/altar-2017/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

=== Awards ===

* Best Actress Feature at the [[Austin Revolution Film Festival]] (2016, won - Stefanie Estes)<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Award Results |url=https://www.austinrevolution.com/p/awards/awards-history/2016awardresults |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Austin Revolution Film Festival |language=en |archive-date=2025-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501184156/https://www.austinrevolution.com/p/awards/awards-history/2016awardresults |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Audience Choice: U.S. Feature at the Austin Revolution Film Festival (2016, won)
* Best Horror Feature at the Austin Revolution Film Festival (2016, won)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|4763340}}
* {{official website|https://www.mattsconce.com/films|Director's website}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|altar_2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Altar (2016 film)}}
[[Category:2016 horror films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Found footage horror films]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Altar (2016 film)|access_date=2026-02-25}}