“How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” follows Tomas Varley, a recent graduate who forms his own religion that quickly spirals out of control.
The film opens in chaotic fashion, perfectly encapsulating who Tomas is as a person. It sets the groundwork for his societal frustrations — and desire for a better life, better career, better… everything.
“How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” then moves very quickly into its central plotline. It isn’t complicated, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s an exaggerated concept and journey, which makes the extra-fast setup work so well.
While the film loses certain aspects of character development to its 86-minute runtime, it still has moments of clarity. For Tomas specifically, “How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” spends a lot of time exploring his meaning. What starts as almost a joke of an idea turns into something valuable. It also makes him question his own morals and character. This creates surprisingly meaningful dialogue on deception and honesty.
Haulston Mann (Tomas) is a big reason that the character feels real amidst the amplified environment around him. He showcases wit and charm in every scene, stealing the show with each hilarious piece of dialogue that he delivers in such a serious manner. Playing an important role, “How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” relies on his performance to either make or break the movie. He makes it.
Other notable performances come from Thérèse Azzara (Jessica Johnson), Del Alan Murphy (Anton) and Lew Temple (Uncle Ed).
In his feature debut, writer-director Wes Clark crafts a smart and calculated satirical thriller. The story is tame yet wild at the same time. Still, it maintains a relatable aura that many will be able to connect with at least on a surface level.
Paired with cinematographer David Newbert, “How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” is a visually pleasing film. It isn’t going to “wow” you, but it adds enough flair to basic environments and settings to stand out amongst the indie crowd.
At times, “How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” has an identity problem. It attempts to balance the funny nature of attempting to start a cult with the more serious subjects that it can bring. The film explores themes like depression, addiction and death in the middle of all the laughs — which doesn’t always feel like it belongs.
Still, these ideas do ultimately bring about the movie’s central messages of hope and the dangers of uncontrolled power. No matter what the original intention was, hope is always a good thing for people. It can eventually grow into something more sinister, however.
“He got what he wanted. He made a name for himself.”
All of these messages culminate into interesting discussions that sometimes work and other times don’t.
“How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” is sharp and hilarious. Not every idea fits perfectly, but the film stays engaging from beginning to end. With its blend of satire and sincerity, this leaves a surprisingly lasting impression.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
“How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps” is available to rent or buy at howtostartacultin5-easysteps.com.
