Behind the Curve

I was thoroughly entertained, this doc allowed the Flat Earth folks to completely explain away their theories and let you decide just how MISLED they are. Getting Scott Kelly to add his two cents was icing on the cake. Seeing flat earthers prove themselves wrong then still deny the truth was an amazing thing to watch, which was also expertly explained by actual psychiatrists of why it happens. Anything without sufficient proof (FE, religion, ghosts, etc) there has to be some true mental gymnastics performed for these things to stay true to believers, and that is also expertly explained in a "loving" way. Highly recommend

A lot of commentators here criticise the film for not providing evidence that the earth is flat, as if it were created as flat earth propaganda. It isn't. The film focuses on those people who spread the idea that the earth is flat, in a more sociological sense. Attempts are made to explain why reasonably intelligent people might believe something that is patently nonsensical. The point is that there is no proof that the earth is flat, because the earth isn't flat. But people believe it, anyway. Who are these people, what exactly do they believe, and what motivates them? These are the questions the film asks. It has a wider theme of the increasing rejection of science and scientific expertise that Trump has made much more acceptable with large sections of society nowadays, and which social media facilitates. So no, don't expect this film to provide pro flat-earth evidence. There isn't any (the last 5 minutes are hilarious). The film wasn't made to do that.

Came into this hoping to hear rational perspectives on flat-earth theory. What we get instead is an inside view of how cultists think and behave.

They believe they have discovered some grand truth that nobody else can see. Then they prescribe to the idea with such reckless conviction that they either outright reject any evidence that disproves their theory, or they contort it until it fits into their distorted view of reality. They then point at the rest of society and say that the truth will be revealed to us as long as we adopt their view of reality. And anyone who refuses to believe them suddenly becomes the enemy. At one point, they even go so far as to claim "it is a battle between good and evil." This all shares stark similarities with other cults, like Scientology.

This film makes it easy to see why some people fall prey to cults, it's a mechanism by which they can cope with their crushing feelings of insignificance in the world. Suddenly they belong to something "exclusive," something that brings them closer to other human beings (which is a struggle that many people face.) This is especially effective with flat-earthers since, by adopting this view, we all become the center of the universe.

I applaud Netflix for not outright ignoring or censoring pieces centered around pseudoscience. But at the same time I'm disappointed because, as is evident in this film, these folks feed off publicity like vultures and use it as a weapon to trap others into their cultist views. Notice how satisfied their "leader" gets when he realizes the media is actually giving attention to one of their conventions; and the way his eyes light up when he sees that a couple brought their kid to said convention was just downright disturbing.

The only thing I gained by watching this film was a stronger distaste for cults.

Flat Earthers are probably wetting themselves at having gained mainstream exposure from such a massive source as Netflix. Sadly (for them) they are exposed as "nice, real people, who are too stupid to understand basic science. But not bad at making wooden electric motorbikes". (Yes, you read that correctly)

No it's not... LMAO. I thought it was documentary but after half an hour I realised that this is actually comedy!