Movies about cults and the mysteries behind religious organizations usually always make for a fascinating watch. Take Alex Gibney’s Emmy-Winning documentary “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,” which provided an in-depth look at the infamous Tom Cruise-beloved organization. A handful of films currently streaming on demand also shed light on various cults, including the L.A.-bred “The Source Family,” the evangelical “Jesus Camp” and “Kidnapped for Christ.” With a plethora of this type of films already available for viewing, what makes director Will Allen’s documentary “Holy Hell” unique is that for 22 years, he was a member of the Buddhafield Cult, the same cult he is now exposing.
Executive produced by Jared Leto, “Holy Hell” shows how one man’s search for the truth unexpectedly lead him down a dark path of brainwashing, sexual abuse, and all around mental torture. Allen, who also narrates the film, explains his how he was introduced to “The Buddhafield” by his sister Amy in the mid-eighties. He recalls meeting The Teacher, a flamboyant man named Michel, who was the leader of the organization. Taking a liking to Allen quickly, Michel designates him as the group’s filmmaker. That footage is what makes up most of this documentary, and it is as chilling and the process as stereotypical as one might expect.
The first act of the film shows beautiful hippie types, barely dressed and frolicking through the forest, hallucinating on happiness. However, the red flags surrounding The Teacher becomes more the forefront of the film as we discover that this organization, which sets out to achieve growth and “The Knowing” (the ability to meet God), is really evolving into mental manipulation to feed Michel’s narcissistic, maniacal ego.
“Holy Hell” takes twists and turns that are hard to digest, and this is only further supported by the endless amount of archival footage from Allen’s camera. At times, it is heartbreaking; forced abortions, severing ties with loved ones, and the rampant occurrence of sexual abuse continues to evoke an emotional response from those who recount those experiences. One male member, in particular, describes being sexually abused by Michel every Monday for five years. It takes around two decades, but eventually enough of the pieces fall into place allowing some members to see the Buddhafield for what it truly is: a cult. It took Will Allen 22 years to figure this out before he finally left the group in 2007.
“Holy Hell,” which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is a creepy but fascinating watch and a good addition to the ever-growing genre of “religious cult” films. The film so accurately portrays Allen’s memory of the Buddhafield because he was literally the one shooting the footage during those years.The film captures Allen’s 180-degree shift in attitude from finding the truth to exposing a monster, condensing 22 years into a 100-minute runtime. While the ending of the film seems a bit silly– “Snow Patrol” by Chasing Cars plays to a music video of “disciples” aka group members in white shirts and pants dancing in a meadow– the parting words are enough to make us do a double take: “You’ve got a cult in your town, I almost guarantee it.” Consider us warned.
“Holy Hell” is not rated. Opens in theaters on Friday, 5/27.
