Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison Of Belief: DVD Review

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison Of Belief: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Madman Home Ent

Unlike Louis Theroux's recent My Scientology Movie, Alex Gibney's rich and rabbit-hole worthy extensive doco is very much a definitive look into the world of Scientology.

Clocking in at under 2 hours and still feeling like there's further echelons for it to explore, Gibney's approach is a lot of talking heads and talking to those directly affected by the Church's behaviour. Using testimonials, Gibney's knitted together a film that really does show the heart-breaking effect that some of the bullying and alienation techniques have had.

Using footage from their galas and a fairly damning expose of why Cruise is held in such high esteem by the Church, the film's ferocity is in its straight down the line, smart reporting. There's never a feeling that Gibney is following an agenda and a desire to take the Church down, and it's refreshing.

Ultimately, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison Of Belief is perhaps the perfect documentary; smart, intelligent and expertly crafted, it's hard to see anyone being anything other than horrified as it plays out.