"Forever" is a good example of an independent film attempting to raise consciousness about important social issues. Unfortunately, the shallow and confused screenplay could never make up its mind about what are the film's objectives.
On the surface, the film appeared to be an exposé of a cult. An investigative reporter has been tracking a strange group residing remote area. The members are a variety of social misfits under the leadership of a psychological guru. The participants have all experienced some form of trauma and are in recovery. But, by the end, the audience is led into a bizarre, Jim Jones-like group of fanatics willing to be led to a collective suicide. But the arc of the action was never credible.
The most troubling aspect of the film was why the troubled journalist Alice would attach herself to the cult even to the extent of sleeping with one of the fragile and damaged members of the group. While Alice was clearly trying to cope with the shocking loss of her boyfriend who had taken his life, it was never convincing that she was working undercover to study the cult for an exposé.
The character of Neil, the cult's leader, appeared like a decent therapist or facilitator until the very end, when he evidently turned into a monster. The individual stories of his devotees were not made interesting in this failed indie venture.
On the surface, the film appeared to be an exposé of a cult. An investigative reporter has been tracking a strange group residing remote area. The members are a variety of social misfits under the leadership of a psychological guru. The participants have all experienced some form of trauma and are in recovery. But, by the end, the audience is led into a bizarre, Jim Jones-like group of fanatics willing to be led to a collective suicide. But the arc of the action was never credible.
The most troubling aspect of the film was why the troubled journalist Alice would attach herself to the cult even to the extent of sleeping with one of the fragile and damaged members of the group. While Alice was clearly trying to cope with the shocking loss of her boyfriend who had taken his life, it was never convincing that she was working undercover to study the cult for an exposé.
The character of Neil, the cult's leader, appeared like a decent therapist or facilitator until the very end, when he evidently turned into a monster. The individual stories of his devotees were not made interesting in this failed indie venture.