Moment of Truth: Cult Rescue

Fairly good drama detailing a stressed out women's descent into a cult headed by a phony guru/psychiatric M.D. The doctor, through hypnosis, convinces the woman that her family life is a mess and that he alone is the answer to all life's questions. Of course, her family goes all out in an effort to have her returned to the fold by enlisting the aid of a man experienced in recognizing cult activity. The poor lady could probably have bypassed all this grief by consulting a good chiropractor. Too much went on in too little time leading to a sketchy program, but still it was a nice little production for anyone interested in how this type of sham is pulled off. A good novel dealing with a related subject was Dean Koontz' "False Memory".

The married Nora McGill (Joan Van ARK) falls under the ominous influence of a doctor who uses hypnosis to drive her into the clutches of a psycho cult. Her husband (Stephen MACHT) and their daughter fight for the threatened Nora...

This Movie Of The Week saw a reunion between Van ARK and MACHT. In 1982, the latter played the brother of Karen Fairgate (Michele LEE), Joe Cooper, in the very successful American family series KNOTS LANDING, who would soon become the editor of Valene Ewing's first bestselling novel "Capricorn Crude" in the series plot. This Valene "Val" Ewing was played by Joan Van ARK from 1979-1993 and was one of the most important characters in the worldwide popular primetime soap opera.

While this story was based on truth, certain liberties may have been taken to make this seem more mainstream. Firstly, if you had visited a doctor, worked in a bank, and he showed up the next week, running into you (and subsequently asking for help with a loan) wouldn't you be a bit suspicious? We live in age where you should not even give your date of birth over the phone; most people even if they were in horrible pain/stress, may have needed a lot more persuasion and incentive to get to the level of cult brainwashing that this film professes.

Yet, by the same token, there are many people susceptible to these groups. Feeling alienated, depressed, overwhelmed with family issues; the film does show how Joan Van Ark, as the victim, is persuaded by the doctor/guru (Daniel Hugh Kelley) to seek a new path, and joint "The Institute".

Tom Kurlander is very good as the cult programmer, who eventually is called into the case. Overall it is an interesting message, but could have been presented a bit more believably. 5/10.