“A young woman embeds herself in a cult looking for answers to her sister's disappearance, only to find a dark secret within the cult and an even darker secret within herself.” (IMDB)
Director: Jourdan McClure; Writers: Ryan Finnerty, Jourdan McClure; Stars: Bill Oberst Jr., Hannah Levien, Whitney Nielsen, et. al.; Released by: AfterDark Originals, LionsGate
I am Bill Oberst Jr.'s favorite, and he loves me. O.K., so it was actually the notorious cult leader Simon Leach who said it, from my TV screen, but that doesn't make any less real! I almost have my bags packed for Mexico. By the way, if you watch Children of Sorrow you will be his favorite too, and I'll see you there!
There have been many a movie to delve into the inner workings of cults, everything from the look at Manson's killer followers in Helter Skelter to today's Edgar Allan Poe quoting The Following TV series. Few have taken the first person approach of actually documenting the cult creation and growth like The Last Exorcist. But with all these movies about cults out there none have shown us the depth to which one person can go to make a group of susceptible minds feel wanted, loved, gain their trust, and ultimately abuse it, like Children of Sorrow. Jourdan and Ryan did their homework before putting this film together!
Of course the perfect twisted cult begins with a charismatic leader with enough brain power to concoct a pleasing experience for his flock. From his first appearance, Simon Leach is that man, he's done his research and knows what is expected of him and knows what he wants to get out of being their leader. Bill Oberst Jr. presents him to us with ease and the behind the scenes development is integral to to the story that is unfolding. This isn't his first rodeo, he has the clothes (earth tones because they are calming to the mind), the twisted sidekick (a very disturbing Mary), and the agenda. Obviously the next important factor to having a good/bad cult is faithful followers with weak enough minds to be brainwashed. Simon Leach acquires ten of these hapless souls, made up of an ensemble cast of convincing actors including the star of the side story, Australian born Levien as Ellen, who believes she's there to infiltrate and find out what happened to her sister. Unfortunately her pessimism and desire for the truth may teach her a thing or two about her own lack of confidence.
Speaking of the story, I have heard the film described as a "slow burn" mostly because it takes awhile to get to the meat of the story. I'm one who would disagree since the meat is entirely dependent on the build up and McClure doesn't compromise by glossing over what makes Leach think he can control this group or leave out any of the proven techniques for turning any weak minded individual into your plaything. He does a great job showing the deterioration of a strong will through mind control, physical exhaustion, and acceptance. Which is really what the film is all about. Even the medium by which the story is told, found footage documentary from the cult leader's perspective, tells us this film is more about Leach's rise to power and what he does with it than anything else. That's why I see Ellen more as a side story than a major focus. This is not a bad thing, I like the fact that her issues interrupt Leach's plans from time to time without totally dominating the narrative.
To say that this isn't a film for everyone would be selling it short. Everyone who's ever thought a cult was a good idea, or does/doesn't know much about the inner workings of cult behavior, should see this movie. It's a great companion piece to Helter Skelter and if you love Bill Oberst Jr. the way we do it's a pleasure to see him leading this fine cast through this disturbing tale that is probably closer to truth than fiction. Now back to my first statement above, I may not actually be his favorite, but let's keep in mind that he did profess his love for the Creepercast, and we will never let that go!
Til Next We Bleed,
J.P.
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