The Way Down (2021–2022) User Reviews

That hair!!

[gallagherkellie · 7/10 · 23 December 2021]

Interesting documentary. I wish the structure was more in order as it was a bit all over the place, but there was a lot of information and I enjoyed it. It makes me so sad that people get sucked into cults like this. I feel so sorry for all of the children, especially Joseph.

I wish we got to hear how the people who left the Church were able to do it and what happened afterward.

I wonder if God brought the plane down...awkward!

Looking forward to the new episodes next year.

Wicked hair, wicked woman

[nikkigassner · 8/10 · 2 October 2021]

The documentary jumps a little all over the place at times, but as a whole it's done really well. This cult seems like hell and those that run it are experts at exploitation and cruelty; as are most cult leaders. It's sad that media outlets like talk shows, including Larry King, gave this woman any sort of attention. At first I thought she just had some strange obsession with her church community being skinny, but there is so much more to it. She's hurt children and adults alike; nothing about this lifestyle is loving or caring. This documentary is captivating and I'd recommend it.

Oh irony of ironies

[timmyhollywood · 7/10 · 3 October 2021]

I'll break this review into two pieces: technique and content.

Technique: This is a serviceable three-episode docu-series mixing the usual talking-head interviews and footage with the occasional reenactment. Since watching, I've learned that production began before the death of the main subject. Perhaps that accounts for some of the odd narrative, the way the timeline jumps around. And how the main storylines -- the couple who lost their daughter to the cult, the woman who had a child with one of the cult leaders, and the parents who beat their son to death -- feel disproportionately intermingled.

Content: It was interesting to see some of these escaped members (not to mention the "cult interventionist" who is among the prominent interviewees) practicing their Christian faith. Natasha, who was falsely called a child abuser by her cult-leader baby daddy, can be seen genuflecting in various scenes, even after she left Remnant. The cult interventionist is wearing a cross on the outside of his shirt, presumably to make sure the camera picks it up. Even some of these reviewers on here opine that the Remnant church isn't wrong for being a Christian church, but because it's a "false church."

There seem to be a lot of false churches these days, and the list of religious charlatans grows longer every year. Christians always have some excuse - "well, it's not MY church. That's not MY way of believing." And while Remnant claims the church only follows bible-based teachings, a reviewer here takes umbrage, arguing that Remnant is NOT Bible-based.

And here we have the problem. Worse than the abuses of one church itself is the very essence of modern Christianity in the United States. Any religion that sets people up to fall for things like the "prosperity gospel," and to short change their critical thinking skills for a set of authoritarian principles, is just no good. Period. This is what makes people susceptible to not only terrors like Gwen Shamblin, but Donald J. Trump.

The problem is, religion is interwoven with culture. As the interviewed Southern author notes, the social culture of the south is all the same - there's nobody better than Jesus, and the Bible is literally true. This is a culture that doesn't merely include some religious beliefs, but is utterly entangled with them. This means that if a person wants to practice a religion other than the one infused with their culture, they risk losing everything. Family, friends, and a community they may have known their whole lives. The religion then acts as a social adhesive, and nobody can be free.

They're all trapped in a cult -- and not just one run by a crazy lady with big hair.

Fascinating docu-series

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 15 July 2022]

As Episode 1 of "The Way Down" (2021-22 release; 5 episodes of about 50 min each) opens, it is "May 29, 2021" and a private plan seems to have crashed shortly after takeoff in suburban Nashville, with all 7 people aboard presumed dead. We then go to "Two Years Earlier", where we see a woman giving a deposition in a law suit. Turns out the woman is Gwen Shamblin, a leader (THE leader?) of the Remnants Fellowship Church, a bizarro mix of weight loss evangelical teachings. Yea, you read that right. We then go back to "1992", and are introduced to Gwen's upbringing. At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Marina Zenovich ("LANCE", "Robin WIlliams: Come Inside My Mind"). Here she looks at the truly strange thing that is the Remnants Fellowship Church. It is strange because it somehow connects conservative Christian faith to a weight-loss program. It also stands out because the de facto founder and leader is a woman, which is unheard of in evangelical circles. There a bunch of other stuff going on which I will let you explore on your own as you watch this. It all makes for fascinating viewing, frankly from the get-go, and I got completely sucked into and enjoying it. I mean, you can't make this stuff up! I don't know why the series is listed here as "The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin", as in the series itself, it's simple billed as "The Way Down". (As a complete aside: the docu-series reveals that at the time of the plane crash, the group was flying to... a Trump MAGA event in Florida. Of course! As the polls consistently show, 75-80% of supposed peaceful, church-going, Jesus-loving, family-friendly Christian conservatives love above all a bullying, serial-lying, narcissistic, racist, Bible-ignorant, anti-democratic dictator-wannabe insurrectionist who would love nothing more than to become "the American Putin". Christian conservatives and the Big Loser. Truly a match made in heaven!)

"The Way Down" premiered on HBO in 2021 with 3 episodes and then 2 more episodes came earlier this year. I'm just now catching up on it on HBO Max, which suggested it to me based on my viewing habits. Great suggestion! If you like documentaries and/or are interested in how one woman built and business empire turned into a church movement, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Are Video Editors On Strike?

[genious-35413 · 6/10 · 5 May 2022]

It's a good series but it could be S'much better with some editing. But it seems that all documentary series' now churn out twice as many episodes as they should. I don't know if it's because they want to stretch these stories out the way the series Dexter took 4 season's worth of material into 9 seasons, or if they just don't want to hire an editor. This is another series that would thrive as 3 episodes. But it IS interesting and well done.

That's why her hair is so big, it's full of secrets- Damian from Mean Girls probably

[kamfg · 7/10 · 7 October 2021]

This certainly takes you for a ride. The first episode was a little slow but overall good, the second episode was more captivating and informative, and the third episode had my heart strings pulled in every direction.

Gwen Shamblin and her beautiful tower of hair

[angelabox · 10/10 · 1 October 2021]

I think I'm going to start doing my hair just like the exquisite and elegant Gwen Shamblin.

Her hair. Her anorexia. Her plastic Ken doll con artist husband. Her fake Christianity. Her grifting scam that is The Remnant Fellowship .This documentary has everything- and I mean everything!

I am so sad that there are only going to be three episodes available and we will have to wait until next year to get the rest because I am obsessed with this and I am not ashamed to admit it.

These people are lunatics and I need more!

Gullible people

[lineart-12973 · 2 October 2021]

I have to say this is not unlike many faith communities out there. Embracing bible-based dogma is your own fault. Most people aren't effective skeptics. You only have to blame yourself after you survive it, or decide to stay in. Most faiths are based on myth and scamming. Stop blaming the creators of these cults. I survived one, you can too. Take responsibility of yourself and your choices.

Not everything needs to be a series

[csmcmackin73 · 7/10 · 14 October 2021]

It is so repetitive as they try to hold the viewer hostage for as long as they can. It was interesting and there are far more cults than anyone can imagine. It is a good documentary and shocking as I didn't know the story. So many humans wanting to find their herd, to feel acceptance. Watch it and recognize the similarities.

Docu-series was excellent - but some of the reviews are even more compelling

[SuzsuzQ · 9/10 · 6 January 2022]

I really enjoyed this and look forward to 2 more episodes (presumably next year?) I'd like to hear a little more about what becomes of some of the key players. Especially Gwen's daughter - if that girl isn't suffering with Anorexia, I'm not sure who is.

I'm a little surprised that the story was unfamiliar to me as I find the topic very interesting. Between the cult storyline and the charlatan religious leader storyline, it was right up my alley.

How individuals can let themselves be taken it by such incredibly obvious hypocrisy is truly beyond me. But I guess they must be looking for something missing in their lives if they're willing to let anyone or anything influence them to this degree. And that's how a cult gets you - it provides what is missing. It fills a void that nothing else has been able to fill.

Of course it's the children either born into it or brought into it by their parents who get my deepest sympathy. Or someone like Delaney who was influenced at a young age and at a particularly vulnerable time in her life. My heart breaks for her parents.

What really fascinated me, however, was reading a couple of the reviews here. There are people who watch the series and then defend this despicable, greedy, evil, charlatan and her co-leaders? It's not a cult and Gwen actually helped people? Really? And how could anyone criticize parents fighting to keep their high school daughter from joining this cult filled with crazies and zealots?

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And it probably shouldn't surprise me as it's a big part of the reason this country is in the horrendously frightening position it's in today.

Shamblin info accurate, but bashes Christians

[rbbvtfdjj · 6/10 · 10 October 2022]

I was familiar with Gwen Shamblin over 20 years ago, but didn't go with her Weigh Down program so lost track. Then looked her up about 2 years ago and was truly shocked in what she had become. Sadly she joined the other side of belief and created a cult.

My problem with this documentary is that they lump all Christians in with her. The one reporter in part one states that Christians in the South people in "Boston" wouldn't recognize. Claimed that "our" Jesus was only known to us and that we would go out an "recruit" others. That is baloney. He also puts down Christians in that we believe the Bible is God's inerrant Word. That is true. Either you believe God is righteous and true or he is a liar. We all have a choice to make.

This documentary does a great disservice (although not surprised) to Christians as a whole who believe in God and the free gift of salvation offered by Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Gwen Shamblin created a cult and led many astray. She is not at all a representative of Christians at all.

Local

[poppysensei · 9/10 · 1 October 2021]

Glad someone made this documentary. In high school my friends and I drove to the church on a dare one night. Here in Tennessee's Tri-State area, religion is a part of almost every household. We are used to "out there" Christian practices and we always joked about Remnant being a cult, but we had no idea it was so crazy. We got a scary/eery feeling that something was off. Maybe it was just the superstition that made us think that, but we couldn't wait to get out of there. It is important for Christians to also stand up to other churches when they are wrong. Christians often feel that we are in this battle of the world hating us together, but it is also up to religious people to hold their own accountable. These are the people that cause others to distrust religious people and Christians.

Proper Treatment of Exploitative People - The Way Down; God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin

[arthur_tafero · 7/10 · 24 October 2022]

This psuedo-documentary is obviously a reference to the adventures of Tammy Faye. She was a religious zealot who was proven to be a complete phony who just took naive people's money. The vast majority of evangelical leaders fall into this category, as it is clearly and beautifully described by Sinclair Lewis in his novel "Elmer Gantry", which won as Oscar for Burt Lancaster. The controversial film shows how these unscrupulous people fleece the public with the greatest of ease. If you havent' seen this film or Elmer Gantry, see Elmer Gantry first, and this film will make much more sense to you.

Poorly edited and seemingly rushed documentary on Remnant cult

[RastaVari · 5/10 · 26 October 2021]

This documentary series is very poorly edited, meaning its three episodes are at once wide-ranging and superficial and bitty, perhaps because the makers felt the need to rush its release following the crash that killed the leader (and a number of her lapdogs) perhaps because it lacked the backbone of proper investigative journalism. Hearing from the survivors and family members of those still involved was moving and enlightening. The experts on cults and the law should have been given more time or more specifics to comment on in order to bring together the survivors' stories of systemic abuse and isolating practices into something more cogent. The soundtrack added to the confused and amateurish feeling; surely expensive yet comes across cheap and childish. All in all it feels as if the brave survivors and families featured deserved better from the 'church' and, unfortunately, better from the makers of the programme. Hopefully, however, it may still open some peoples eyes to the dangers of this and other cults.

The abomination and her sponger.

[deloudelouvain · 6/10 · 4 September 2022]

The reason I watch documentaries is to learn something new, to educate myself about a subject I don't know a lot about it. Did I really learn anything after watching The Way Down? No, not really. It's always been obvious to me that cults are just a bunch of rather desperate people getting indoctrinated by some delusional gurus. I would say 99% of those people are easily fooled idiots that need something to believe in, that need somebody to tell them what to do in life. Starting a cult is actually very easy. You just need to be a smooth talker, set up somes rules, it doesn't matter how crazy they are as long as in the long term you're the entire beneficiary of it, and then just start looking for some naive dumb people, and that is believe it or not the easiest thing in the world to do as we're surrounded by them on this planet. Is this documentary good? Well it's basically interviews of cult members that left the crazy circus, telling us what crazy people did there, without realizing they were those crazy people themselves. They don't like it that people see them as fools but the truth is they are, and most of them still are when you hear them speaking. The upper guru here is Gwen Shamblin, an abomination, as well physically as mentally. That anybody would listen to anything that "thing" has to say is beyond my comprehension, I will never understand it. Let alone that anybody would want a relation with her. I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot barge pole, even if she was the last woman on earth. Her second husband, yeah that's the crazy thing, she's allowed to divorce whilst others aren't, is an opportunist that saw there was some easy money to be made whilst just smile at anything the upper guru has to tell, probably poke her every now and then to keep the diva satisfied (respect that he managed to do that, I wouldn't be able to). The tragic deaths of all those leaders (well tragic is a big word, I would rather say that karma is a b***h), was the funniest thing about this documentary. I guess God has a special kind of humor. The upper guru had also kids, a son that looked miserable all the time because of depression, and a daughter that looked miserable because a lack of food intake. If for some obscure reason her little lunatics club would fail in the future (I doubt it considering the amount of idiots available on planet earth), there's still a chance for the daughter to get the major role in The Corpse Bride if somebody would make a movie out of it. So is this documentary worth a watch? I tend to say yes, even if you're like me a convinced atheist that will end up in eternal suffering in their fictional hell. At least you get the feeling you're smarter than all those sheeple. I had all kind of feelings whilst watching the five episodes of The Way Down, mostly anger and disbelief, hatred towards the leaders, but not really compassion towards the "victims", I mean nobody put a gun to their head, they're just weak, naive and not very smart. This wasn't the first cult, this will not be the last cult, there are millions of Gods to chose from, so I'll you need to succeed creating your own is finding your flock of dumbos.

A Religious Cult Built on Weight Loss

[lambiepie-2 · 9/10 · 2 October 2021]

I had stumbled onto this good documentary on HBOMax and had no idea this Church of God likes skinny people existed. Run by a questionable woman using Christianity as her prop to turn out clones of herself and her beliefs, Gwen Shamblin, she operated for decades under this horrific religious guise. Families suffered, relationship suffered in ways I hadn't seen before.

Physical abuse of children. Forced pregnancies. Forced Divorces. Forced weight loss. Etc. All under the name of God, but you'll find that SHE was taking the god moniker for herself, and these folks followed - to a point.

And that is what this documentary puts across effectively.

This documentary also gets across that Gwen Shamblin-Lara and her Church of Heavenly Weight Loss, is also a cautionary tale as it seems so successful as we watch her and those in her orbit run amok with her lavish lifestyle

This tale ends unexpectedly tragic for all the main members and it's a doozy. And their end may make you think whether you're a believer of Christianity or not, that their God doesn't appreciate being mocked.

What a fascinating hair - I mean, docuseries!

[tigerlily82 · 9/10 · 3 October 2021]

I'm trying to think of where is best to start...probably hair - I mean here: Yes, the three initial episodes do feel a little scattered and a bit like poor journalism, however, I think this is because just a couple months before this docuseries was meant to air its subject died in a plane crash. You have to imagine that all the research, interviews, filming, and even most if not all of the editing on all five episodes was finished at this time and then the story changed. I am sure there was a rush job to make decisions and changes so that the series could still be released, and they had to cut two of the episodes entirely so that they could be done in the future once more information comes to light about the plane crash and the impact on the cult and its "church." So, again, yes, it is a little disjointed in its story telling, but I understand why it ended up that way. All that said, watch this. Cultism and extremist thought is growing rapidly in America and this is an interesting snapshot as to how it takes root in people's lives. I was entirely unfamiliar with this story in any aspect, so I was fascinated and immediately drawn into the hair - I mean story (dang, why does that keep happening?!). If you find cults of interest, I highly recommend this docuseries. The stories from former members and their loved ones are heartbreaking, and if you say you didn't tear up at all when Mr. Beene was discussing the loss of his wife to this cult, you have to be lying. My heart also breaks for Gwen's children who appear to be the living embodiments of pain itself. I hope her son finds some freedom now, and I am concerned it might be too later for her daughter, who appears to be taking over for Gwen, though I'm also fairly certain if she doesn't eat something, anything, soon, she'll simply blow away in the first stiff Tennessee wind. I did lower my review by one star because of the scattered feeling that almost made me stop watching in episode one, and because while it is briefly mentioned they don't actually discuss what the hell is going on with that hair - I mean...no, wait, I do mean hair!!! What on earth is happening there?! Gwen gives a whole new meaning to "tease it to Jesus." There has to be some sort of internal structure in there. There just has to be. What is it? Is it Styrofoam? Is it a small dog? I gotta know! I was so excited when Gina started talking about it, but then they immediately switched topics. Please, in the final two episodes, tell us about the hair! If you think the image in the thumbnail is an exaggeration, you are in for a surprise. Maybe they didn't want to speak terribly ill or make a mockery of the dead when discussing the hair, but Gwen was an atrocious human being, so who cares! And speaking of which, the news coverage of the crash seems to be a little sparse on details. They keep saying they found "human remains" and there seems to be no further research onto the 'why/how' of the crash. I feel suspicious. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I am a skeptic, and I just don't trust this as the information stands. Perhaps the docuseries will have more info for us in the future, but what I'm seeing on the internet doesn't convince me who went down in that plane at all or that this was a tragic accident of any kind. It's got "faked their own death" written all over it. Just sayin'.

You reap what you sow

[djonair · 8/10 · 3 October 2021]

Interesting documentary. What I found interesting was that they said their church was bible based. NOT TRUE at all. The things Shamblin told those little kids were shameful and not at all from the bible. In fact, I didn't hear anything in this documentary pertaining to the bible at all. I'm from Nashville and I sure hope none of my friends are involved with this cult. Satan's biggest campaign is false religion and this is a big one.

Scattershot

[kbilly782 · 4/10 · 2 October 2021]

The hair alone is worth the price of admission, but otherwise this was extremely surface level. As other reviewers have pointed out, it jumps all over the place which detracts from the overall cohesiveness of the experience.

Hold back your anger... These idiots are the foundation of the US!

[jmezzatesta · 9/10 · 17 November 2021]

This angered me so much... I just don't get it... When you look at someone, and see how stupid they look... Why would you take them seriously? Super simple initial introduction... A woman tries to make you do the unthinkable... And you need support for something that had happened in your life. Oh, gee! I know a good solution! Let's listen to a stupid white woman with hair from something out of an Australian mangrove, and carry out her insane plans.... Wow... Anyone who followed her can try hard, but they are the idiots that made this thought process into flesh...

Well done... We done, America! Land of the free home of the fkn idiot!

Awesome docuseries - this is for real!

[bajscott · 10/10 · 3 October 2021]

This is a must watch - we need to be aware of the cults around us and there are so many. No one means to join a cult...they join a church or a community and then they are so far in before they are even aware something is not right! Loved all 3 episodes and hope this docuseries helps people get out of the cult and helps to bring it down!

a planecrash of relief ?...

[ops-52535 · 10/10 · 22 December 2021]

A planecrash that may have saved and changed the lives of many children and broken soles, that is my major first thought after seeing this 3 part hbo production about a socalled cultish church , the Remnant Fellowship Church, operating in the southern bible belt of USA.

Its a clinically , antagonistically made documentary about how religion can undermine and eventually undertake the lost children of god, the fat and obese that has been gloathing from the menu of s...n, to become cleansed and be disciples in the biblical warfare of malnutrition, to make people hungry for life and hungry for the scripture...but whatever, as a gentle grumpy old man ill leave my R. I. P's to everyone that has fallen from earthly life due to having been citizens of religious culting, either conscious or vice versa...

its a documentary that will emphasize with every conspiracious anti cristian sole on the barren ground of belief in the bible belt, and it is like a call from the heaven of truth for anyone that claims to be religiously neutral , like me , the grumpy old man.therefore a recommend, and i look forward to the cotinuation of documentary making that hopefully will come in the near future.

Okay, but did it really need to be this long?

[memefactory · 5/10 · 24 July 2022]

This should have been a single documentary film, not an almost 5-hour docuseries. The first two episodes are mainly people being angry that they fell for an Evangelical who turned out to be mainly about the money. Wow, who would ever have thought such a thing could happen? Episode 3, we finally see more or the consequences of a Christian cult in the making.

The Word "Sham" is Literally In Her Last Name

[jpspencer-14435 · 8/10 · 31 January 2024]

Sometimes , it is difficult to feel positive emotions to the heavily faithful. If viewers take anything away from this documentary (and so many others like it about other control groups), let it be that the faithful aren't born this way. Believers are the way they are because someone wanted them that way, and engineered them to follow.

The weight loss angle of this particular cult should have set off bells and whistles from the get-go. Everyone is different and unique. Whether it's the matching jumpsuits of Heaven's Gate, FLDS female hair styles, or pews full of thin people, forcing members into one box is a system of control. Homogenization is as boring in people as it is at Olive Garden. It's a big world, with variety and variance. Embrace that instead.

This is so well done!

[georgiatedge · 10/10 · 2 October 2021]

This documentary sheds light on a seemingly "normal" church that looks shiny on the outside, but has some dark secrets.