Holy Hell

Name: Holy Hell
Genre: Documentary
Released: May 27, 2016
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 64
Cast: David Christopher, Phillipe Coquet, William Francesco Allen

2016

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Holy Hell

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Movie Details & Credits

CNN Films | Release Date: May 27, 2016 | Not Rated

Starring: David Christopher, Phillipe Coquet, William Francesco Allen

Summary: In 1985, recent film school graduate Will Allen became a member of The Buddhafield, a Los Angeles area spiritual group. Also acting as the group’s official videographer, he began to document their activities, which centered on the mysterious leader they called Michel, or The Teacher. Over time, the group’s dark side began to surface asIn 1985, recent film school graduate Will Allen became a member of The Buddhafield, a Los Angeles area spiritual group. Also acting as the group’s official videographer, he began to document their activities, which centered on the mysterious leader they called Michel, or The Teacher. Over time, the group’s dark side began to surface as total devotion turned to paranoia, until finally, unexpected truths about their enlightened leader were revealed – all in front of Allen’s camera.
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Director: William Francesco Allen

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Justin Gerber

Mar 3, 2016

Holy Hell ropes us in with tales of delusion before chilling us with tales of terror. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Jun 1, 2016

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. Read full review

The Playlist Katie Walsh

Jun 1, 2016

While Holy Hell only offers answers about this particular group and the experiences of these individuals, it’s a riveting piece of work, a look into a tightly-controlled and private world of brainwashing, abuse and exploitation in the name of spiritual fulfillment. Read full review

David D'Arcy

Mar 3, 2016

Even by cult documentary standards, this one finds absurd depths in the peddling of enlightenment. Read full review

Sam Fragoso

May 26, 2016

Holy Hell — despite its unprecedented access — finds itself oscillating back and forth between mediocrity and illumination. Read full review

Marc Savlov

May 25, 2016

Allen’s film 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. “Namaste,” for the record, is also an anagram for “Me Satan.” Read full review

Clayton Dillard

May 20, 2016

It hopes to jolt audiences with OMGs instead of edifying them about the empty lure of Buddhafield's cult mentality. Read full review

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User Reviews

Scraper

Sep 14, 2016

This is a pretty amazing story. Of course it's frightening that ordinary people we're seduced by this cult so deeply for so long. I guess the scariest part is the notion that none of us are immune to being persuaded, if not hypnotized, on the way to fulfill our desires. The story is narratedThis is a pretty amazing story. Of course it's frightening that ordinary people we're seduced by this cult so deeply for so long. I guess the scariest part is the notion that none of us are immune to being persuaded, if not hypnotized, on the way to fulfill our desires. The story is narrated along the way by surviving cult members who gradually reveal their deep-seated pain and heartbreaking mental scars. The film is thorough and done with care. I just kind of felt it trailed off and there was no real resolution.… Expand

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