Holy Hell (2016)

Very well executed

the audience applauded

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Worth 8+ .Not sure Why some reviewers think its hard to believe someone would follow that leader, he was cunning, energetic, mesmerizing and a good psychological manipulator. Also, he was able it seem to channel at times energetic forces and focus people together to do so, resulting in so call spiritual,mental and physical experience that felt powerful to the group. Also a sense of belonging to oneself and the universe . People often need only a little push that way and wanna feel part of something, a group, a family, a nation. not alone. Charisma and assertive power come in many shapes and form. This documentary did and OK job to explain and show this, thanks!

"Holy Hell," a documentary written and filmed by Will Allen, gives an unsettling and eerie insight into the actions and nature of an American religious cult that began in the 1980s. This documentary narrates the story of the Buddhafield cult through old video footage filmed by Allen, as well as indirect interviews with former members of the cult. The Buddhafield society, as stated by one of the former members, was never originally labeled as a cult but rather a religious, self-prospering group that promised happiness and self- discovery. This promise can be seen as somewhat believable throughout the beginning of the documentary; however, from an outsider perspective to both hardcore religion and group "family", "Holy Hell" can come off as very strange, and quite frankly, uncomfortable. The Buddhafield religion was formed through a manipulative, former aspiring actor, named Michel, who at first glance seems to be an awkwardly happy, smooth talking man that could possibly fit the role of a leader that he so desperately tries to fill; however, as time progresses one begins to truly see the maniacal nature of his "leadership." It begins simply as a supposed man of God sent to instill ideas of faith and self-acceptance through those who follow. He teaches those around him to accept themselves for who they are and to abstain from any type of self enhancement (i.e. make up, cosmetic surgery, etc.) as well as romantic relations, not only within the group but with anyone outside the group as well. He preached about the importance of community and of serving for God, however Michel is hardly ever seen serving. The actions of serving God begin to shift towards serving Michel, and it gets to the point where the members of his group, for lack of better words, became obsessive over Michel. It honestly made me feel uncomfortable viewing such a thing. It only continued to get worse as the documentary progressed. You soon discover that he sexually exploited the members of his group only to tell them that they were "special" and not to tell anyone of the events that happened. His denial of any such wrong doing and the demonization of anyone who did not agree with his ideals truly made me sick to my stomach and wonder if I should even continue the rest of the documentary. So, I think it goes without saying, but I didn't particularly love this film; however, I will admit that it was interesting.This documentary is not one for the average movie goer, due to its continuously unsettling nature. In, the documentary Allen chose to shine light on the members in a way that presented them to be no different than any other deeply devoted religious group even though their actions alone give off an uneasy feeling within oneself. "Holy Hell" can be understood best with hardened film fanatics given its highly analytical structure. The way in how this documentary was filmed lacks the sort of narrative backbone that allows a story to appeal to a much broader audience. It instead forms a sort of "glimpses-in-time" manner of delivery that gives more of an objective standpoint on the story. However, the interviews with former members, along with the narration of the film, contrastingly provide a subjective undertone, persuading the audience to see Michel in a sinister light. Due to its highly paradoxical manner of storytelling, it can be quite confusing for viewers comfortable with the classic style of narrative film. So, all in all this documentary is one for those interested in the topic and the style in which it is directed. It is definitely not for everyone, and should be watched with that in mind.

They almost got me, I came here before watching the movie and for a minute I was convinced this was not such good movie. Still my profound curiosity about cults in general made me watch it anyways. The movie is well done and depicts what seems a really bad cult, certainly worth seeing. Clearly all this bad reviews come from cult members, as almost all claim they are not showing the other side. I have news for you guys, this is a documentary film, not the news. All is subjective , even the news are subjective. Also this man (the guru) is obviously distorted and you can see just by watching him behave it is all for real. one of the best documentaries about cults I ever seen. Only thing, I wish they brought and expert to explain how he succeeded to elicit such states in people. Worth seeing!

This was a unique documentary. It follows the growth of a cult for over 25 years. The author was a member in it and was allowed to film. We do gain insights into its leader and his motivations (a narcissistic manipulative actor). We also see how the people surrounding him venerated him – and they were all young, white and beautiful. They called him "master", definitely a sign that they were devoid of independent thought. Like many cults the "master" gave his members new names – and put a distance between them and their families.** spoilers below** And this is the first cult I have been aware of, where it was the men being sexually abused. Women, it seemed, would have only been psychologically abused. Interestingly no children were permitted. This film does provide many insights into cult behavior. We see how the "master" hypnotized and put these young minds under his spell. I couldn't help thinking, as I was watching; would these people now be ISIS recruits? One woman said that she "would be willing to die for the "master" ".