EPISODE 1.1
The Kingdom
A deadly plane crash draws public attention to the Remnant
... More Fellowship, a Christian-diet-program-turned-church, and its infamous leader, Gwen Shamblin Lara.Less
The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin
HBO docuseries from Emmy-winning director Marina Zenovich (Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired) depicting Christian weight-loss guru Gwen Shamblin Lara's rise to attain cult-like power over her followers.
After rising to fame with her Weigh Down Workshop, a Christian-based diet program that preached slenderness as next to godliness, Gwen Shamblin Lara founded the Tennessee-based church. Despite a carefully curated image, Lara and the church soon fielded accusations of emotional, psychological, and physical abuse, and exploitation for their alleged cult-like practices. Encompassing years of investigation and extensive interviews with former members and others personally impacted, The Way Down explores the legacy of Remnant’s infamous leader–whose life came to a shocking end after a plane crash in May 2021.
Less2021Rating: 16USAHBO
Documentary
- Cast:
- Gwen Shamblin
The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin | Reviews
80%10 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® Score
All reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
The Washington Post
Zenovich structures her three-part documentary... like Dante's visit to the circles of hell; the deeper we wade in, the more grotesque the cruelties.
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Decider
The Way Down is one part fascinating study of the human condition to one part guilty pleasure.
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A.V. Club
An undoubtedly upsetting tale, but it's almost undermined by the insistence on frequent breaks to dial up the tension.
Full reviewThe Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin | Release Details
The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin is available to stream in New Zealand now on Neon.