Phoenix Rising

If you've ever been in an abusive relationship, you will feel and understand every second of this documentary. Chilling, real, and honest. Thank you Evan for making this and coming forward and working so hard for change. In Canada (where I am), we don't have a stature of limitation on abuse and it's sickening that some places do. I am 7 years out of my abusing relationship and I still struggle and it took me years to not feel the guilt and shame that the relationship caused me.

This documentary is one woman's story of abuse. There is, despite some reviewer's posts, a ten year statue of limitations for sexual assault/domestic violence in California and that was extended from 1-3 by the Phoenix Project founded by Evan Rachel Wood and her work for survivors. It is sad that we live in a world where women must take measures such as these to be heard and seen, only to have anonymous posters attempt to discredit them.

A chilling documentary on an age-old problem, domestic violence. What grabs our attention is that both people in the couple involved are famous. If you can get past the name recognition you will see all the telltake signs of classic abuse: grooming, honeymoon period, isolation, escalation from verbal to physical abuse, gaslighting, threats and a tremendous power imbalance. It would be mundane were it not so horrifying.

As usual, we have reviews here that are not discussing the contents of the film. The fact is that if the accused is not guilty of what is alleged, he must say that there was no basis for anything in his art and in his autobiography, whereas everything his accuser says is backed up by everything he has in his music, his videos and his own published account of his life and mental state. I believe her because I believe him. If the accusations are not true, he has hurt himself by spontaneously creating this preponderance of evidence for over a decade and then disavowing it when suddenly people actually took him at his word.

It was horrifying & shocking to see what Ms. Wood endured at the hands of her abuser, but awe-inspiring to learn how she channeled her energies into helping other survivors. Pushing to change archaic laws with arbitrary statues of limitation is a cause that will help countless victims of crimes. Shining a light on abusers by both naming them & outlining their tactics will help prevent future victims from being preyed upon. Knowledge truly is power.

The backlash from this film will undoubtedly open wounds both new & old, and the path will continue to be difficult to walk. I sincerely hope that Ms. Wood can take heart knowing that her strength has inspired & empowered others. I hope she can heal, live her life on her own terms, and continue bringing amazing things into this world. Shalom aleichem.

So I wanted to recommend this series as being among the most powerful, compelling, gripping, riveting films I've watched in a long time. This film covers the circumstances surrounding and including the abuse of Evan Rachel Wood, and other women, by Marilyn Manson and their search for safety, healing, and justice.

I think this is an important film to watch to understand and see what family violence survivors can go through, how difficult it is to come forward about the abuse, the isolation, the pervading fear, shame and other lasting impacts of that abuse. The abuser creates another reality around themselves to normalize the abuse and render it acceptable to those present, a co-existing state of insanity. Harrowing.