The most compelling aspect of this documentary is the remarkable look inside a cult’s operations, but even that extensive behind-the-scenes footage couldn't make "Holy Hell" work for me. Perhaps it’s because director Will Allen was himself part of the group and wasn’t able to maintain enough objectivity regarding his subject, but I felt like there were numerous chances missed to explore some more significant topics about cult psychology and religion. It's difficult for me to grasp how individuals can be so manipulated into following someone who claims to be an authority figure, and even more surprising that members were enduring such terrible sexual and psychological abuse without anyone speaking out. The film’s concluding sequence, which focuses on the eventual dissolution of the cult and a later encounter between a former member and the leader in Hawaii, felt disappointing. It's a somewhat engaging documentary that unfortunately loses steam rather abruptly. A man recorded his life and experiences for 22 years while involved with “Buddhafield,” a cult headed by an enigmatic, captivating man known only as Michel. In "Holy Hell," director Will Allen offers us a uniquely personal perspective on the internal workings of a cult, drawing from the video he filmed while participating in it. While distinctive both because of its access and its intensely personal connection to the filmmaker, “Holy Hell” isn’t a particularly well-crafted documentary. Several questions go without resolution. The movie doesn't offer any genuine insight into how or why cults function: what specifically draws people to these groups and why do they remain—especially after the shocking details of their leader’s abuse of members come to light? Why do adults permit themselves to be exploited? What is it about human nature that leads individuals to join such organizations, and why do they resist leaving even when they are aware that something is seriously wrong? Because it didn't provide any real understanding of the answers to these questions, I’m rating it two and a half stars.

Source on TMDB