Blu-ray Review – Guyana: Cult of the Damned

There have been several attempts to explore the experience of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple throughout many forms of media. 1979's "Guyana: Cult of the Damned" is one of the first offerings of dramatic exploration, entering theaters less than a year after the mass suicide event in Jonestown. Speed appears to be the goal of the production, with noted B-movie manufacturer Rene Cardona Jr. trying to cash-in on a horrific situation with his endeavor, aiming to provide a horror show for those curious about the ghastly situation involving Jones and the creation of his cult, which he worked to build up, ultimately leading them to their deaths in 1978. However, instead of pushing extra hard to generate a satisfying understanding of manipulation and mental deterioration, Cardona Jr. generates tepid exploitation instead. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com