Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple Photos

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Cast & Crew

Stanley Nelson
Director

Marcia Smith
Writer

Mark Samuels
Executive Producer

Michael Chin
Cinematographer

Lewis Erskine
Film Editing

Aljernon Tunsil
Film Editing

News & Interviews for Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

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Audience Reviews for Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

• Nov 20, 2013

  The Jonestown Massacre was one of the most shocking moments of the late 1970's. Over 900 Cult members committed suicide by drinking Kool-Aid laced with cyanide. This documentary chronicles the history leading up to that event and features interviews with members of the People Temple Church. This was a chilling film that exposed the church for what it was, and it also reveals the story that was hidden from the public eye. Well shot, disturbing, and engaging from the first frame onwards, this is a standout documentary about one of the most shocking tragedies of the 20th century. Here being interviewed are people who left the Church and journalists who have written on the church and the subsequent massacre in 1978. This is a truly unique documentary as there has never been a cult quite like this before or since. This is a hard film to watch due to its subject, but to those interested in the topic, this is a must watch. The film has some riveting footage from the day of the massacre, and eye witness accounts of what happened. Captivating and unforgettable, the film is one of the finest documentaries I've seen. Jim Jones was a mad man, and how he ordered 900+ people to kill themselves is absolutely sickening. The last half of the documentary is truly hard to watch, as the former members of the Peoples Temple describe what happened on November 18, 1978. That was a senseless act ordered by a lunatic, there was nothing to gain with the act, and many people lost their lives for nothing. This is an eye opening, disturbing and powerful documentary that is definitely not for the faint of heart.
  Alex r Super Reviewer
• Mar 21, 2008

  An interesting look at a horrifying piece of history and at just how crazy religious fanatics (and their followers) can be.
  Super Reviewer