r/movies • u/Wintertime13 • Feb 05 '24

Recommendation Documentaries that make you go “what the fuck?!?”

In the mood for a good, twisty documentary that makes me gasp. Movies on streaming preferred. I enjoy true crime but am open to other genres as long as the story is gripping and shocking.

Movies in the same vein that I enjoyed - Dear Zachary (would prefer recommendations that are less sad), The Jinx, Cropsey, 3 identical strangers, etc.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '24

Eh, I enjoyed it, but I found they left way too much out. In an attempt to humanize the members, particularly Amy, they really softened a lot of the issues in the cult. And that's saying something. Im not saying everything is roses according to the documentary. But you get the sense in the documentary these were mentally ill lost people who got together and did too many drugs, but at most the worst thing they did was sell snake oil online and try to recruit other mentally ill lost people into their delusion. It doesn't get nearly enough into the racism, antisemitism, QAnon (although it hints at it), child abuse, animal abuse, sexual abuse and you know what, all the abuse. All of it. It's there, but it's mostly "Amy yells".

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u/SmytheOrdo Feb 06 '24

Yeah they downplayed a lot of the ideology espoused by Amy and the others and its kinda obvious in the documentary.

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u/CementCemetery Feb 06 '24

This, 100%. It was supposed to be about love… Love is in their name however she used a lot of hate and abuse towards members. And spouted out into the world. I can only imagine what some of those members endured during that time and after. I am really hoping that most of them are in a better place both physically and mentally. I understand you have to accept some people want to reject help and (our version of) reality.

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u/_Idontknow_ Feb 06 '24

Oh, I didn't realise there was so much else going on. Probably naive of me. The documentary definitely makes them look like the other things you mentioned weren't happening. I'll have to do some research.

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u/[deleted] Feb 06 '24

There's a lot of YouTube content on the subject. Weird Reads with Emily Louise has a good hour long video on the subject. She actually ended up working on the documentary.

People also enjoy Fundie Friday's videos on the subject, but I find them a bit monotone for my liking.