When people think of infamous religious cults, they often recall the homophobic rhetoric of the Westboro Baptist Church or the devastation of the Jonestown massacre and the Waco siege—all based in the United States. However, one of the most influential doomsday cults, which managed to wreak havoc for decades, was Japan’s Aum Shinrikyo. The group’s origins remain a little-known and dark chapter, even within Japan. Yet, many remember the horrifying day in 1995 when a deadly nerve gas attack in Tokyo’s busy subway system killed thirteen people and injured thousands.
In the documentary AUM: The Cult at the End of the World, directors Ben Braun and Chiaki Yanagimoto recount the rise and fall of Aum Shinrikyo, from its inception by the notorious guru Shoko Asahara to its dissolution in the months following the Tokyo attack. The film features testimonies from journalists who followed the story, as well as former cult members, who provide chilling recollections of the evil that brewed within Asahara and how Aum Shinrikyo managed to stay under the radar for so long before that fateful day in 1995.
What emerges is a tangled web of deception, where the mass media—captivated by Asahara’s charismatic guru persona—turned a blind eye to the ominous compound that housed thousands of his followers. He was even interviewed on national Japanese television, freely preaching his abstract spiritual beliefs. His doctrines indoctrinated many of Japan’s university students, who were awed by his associations with figures like the Dalai Lama, lending credibility to his words—no matter how sinister they were.
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World is primarily told through historical footage, much of which originates from the very media that failed to scrutinize Asahara’s radical ideology. This footage is narrated by those who witnessed the events firsthand, juxtaposing Asahara’s allure with their retrospective accounts. The documentary also follows journalists and lawyers who attempted to uncover the truth about Aum and its far-reaching influence. However, this is where the film encounters its primary flaw.
Unfortunately, AUM unfolds like a Wikipedia-style retelling of twelve years of events, without delving deeply into the psychology behind Asahara’s manipulative power. Just as subjects begin to discuss critical aspects that could provide greater insight, the film abruptly moves to the next topic, disjointedly leaving previous points unexplored. The timeline is difficult to follow, making it unclear when and where certain events take place, which adds to the confusion. The film’s sluggish pacing, coupled with its broad scope, suggests that a mini-series format would have been better suited to capturing the full weight of Aum Shinrikyo’s legacy and the significance of the Tokyo attack.
While AUM: The Cult at the End of the World presents a compelling and original take within the crowded landscape of doomsday cult documentaries, its execution falls short. The film struggles to effectively convey the deeper “why” and “how” behind Aum’s influence and atrocities, leaving much to be desired.
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World is now playing in U.S. cinemas and is available on VOD starting March 19.
