Though the filmmakers may ask themselves whether enduring the personal nightmare of collecting footage for the series was worth it, it's certainly rewarding for an audience. A creepy but fascinating watch and a good addition to the ever-growing genre of "religious cult" films. If you're already fascinated by the world of religious fanaticism, the series will leave you captivated. The subject matter is so intoxicating, the footage unique and powerful, that even the flaws in this documentary can't erode the power of the stories and fascinating characters presented in the series. Even with admitted self-censorship, this intimate and often fascinating footage reveals a megalomaniac who genuinely inspired his early disciples. Rajneesh's gentle compassion for his fellow cult survivors is understandable, but is ultimately unsatisfying. Still, for fans of cult documentaries, the series is worth it for its insider footage alone. The series, raw and anguished, is not just a story about a terrible breach of trust, but one of loss, its creator mourning the relationships he had. Tries to get across the ambiance of a community under the sway of a weirdly magnetic figure, but inevitably it comes up short; nonetheless the taste that it provides is chilling. With unprecedented access to archival footage and former members of the Rajneeshpuram community, it's impossible to look away from the series. An uneven blend of news program, suspense narrative and toward the end, somewhat saccharine self-help exercise. What sets this film apart is the filmmakers' ability to deliver with integrity and sensitivity extremely intimate stories of optimism, faith, and painful disillusionment. Like watching a takedown of Hitler by a disillusioned Leni Reifenstahl, what emerges is one of the decade's strangest and most unsettling documentaries, especially given its as-yet-unwritten ending. Rajneesh has made an engrossing and tense documentary, though his insider knowledge is sometimes a hindrance. It's ham-fistedly structured to withhold information for maximum dramatic impact. But that impact, as predictable as it is, hits hard. The series is as much a self-reckoning as it is a cautionary tale for other spiritual seekers, and as such it offers invaluable insights into how cults -- and especially cults of personality -- function and grow.has an undeniable car-crash fascination, especially once the filmmakers reveals just how deeply this particular phony guru abused the trust of his faithfuls. Fascinating insider look at a crazy cult leader and the devotees who were blinded by fantasy and hope for Rajneesh. The revelations are fascinating, though one wishes the filmmakers had marshaled his material with more structure. There's an uplifting catharsis to the series, and rather than let the audience sit in judgment or mock the beliefs of those who participate, it lets us try to forge a bond with them instead.
Simon says Wild Wild Country receives:
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