The documentary 'Aum: The Cult at the End of the World' explores the notorious Aum Shinrikyo cult, which was responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Through a mix of local and global perspectives, the film highlights the troubling psychological and social factors that enabled Shoko Asahara, the cult's leader, to manipulate vulnerable individuals. It not only recounts the tragic events but also critiques the rise of true-crime content, illustrating how these stories resonate on both personal and societal levels.
It's easy to understand why true-crime documentaries about cults have become so popular in a streaming age that depends on a constant stream of new (but reliable) content.
The film refracts the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway through local and global lenses, but it's more about the genre itself than the Aum Shinrikyo cult.
Asahara preyed on the most vulnerable people he could find, transforming his new age yoga group into Japan's most notorious doomsday cult.
Asahara sold 'miracle cures' to the elderly and later offered spiritual power to those disillusioned by Japan's economic boom.
Collection
[
|
...
]