This is a documentary examining the religion of Scientology. Actually, the reference to Scientology being a “religion” is a major point in the documentary, how they fought the IRS, how they attained the religious status, and even questions about whether Scientology even is a religion.

The film shows a large number of interviews with former Scientology members who talk about the reasons they became involved in the church and the reasons they ended up leaving. But there are no interviews with current Scientology members. And therein lies a bit of the problem with this documentary. It is very one-sided against Scientology. Personally, I’ve never met a member of that church so I don’t have any first-hand experience but my gut tells me there might be some redeeming qualities that draw people to the religion. I’m sure there is probably a lot of truth to all of the horrors the former members talk about experiencing in the church but there is virtually no counter-arguments presented in the film so in the end, it all felt very one-sided.

NOTE: the church was reached out to for comment as well as several members but they all declined to talk to the filmmakers so there probably wasn’t much in terms of an alternate point of view that could be presented.

Based on what I know of the church, it seems they are more of a self-help type, psychology group than a specific religion organized around a deity but that’s their right and I’m fine with them believing what they want. If they did illegal things, they should be punished for them. In the end, I’d still like to see an alternate documentary with actual members in good standing with the church to see if there is another side beside the dark one presented here.