Apostasy

Just about everything that could go wrong for a JW family actually happens in this sad but accurate portrayal of life in the Watchtower culture. Both the acting and the story are superb, and raise troubling questions about raising children in an environment of near total control by the JW organization and local congregation elders. This unvarnished and rare behind the scenes look bears witness to the complete disintegration of one family, and will leave viewers haunted by what they observe.

I was a Jehovah's Witness for eight years. Disassociated. (That means I left on my own free-will.) The movie is very well made and 100% accurate with the terminology and procedures used by Jehovah's Witnesses. It does not sugar coat the issues between the Watchtower Organization's brutal policy of shunning disfellowshipped family members, nor does it even resolve the issues or comforts the viewer. The movie simply gives us the hard truth of the impact caused by extreme religious indoctrination. One can only watch this and reflect on their own experience.

Wow. Very well done. It shows how life really is in the organization, not how it's portrayed for the bible studies. No petting tigers or paradise scenes of perfection. It's the bare facts of the inner workings of a local congregation. As a 4th generation JW, I can attest that the depiction was spot on. Life in the religion is often judgmental, unforgiving and very often unloving. College is frowned upon, saying that often there are dangers of worldly association, missing meetings and possible temptation toward fornication. The fact that all three were tied together in one sinful package- was superb writing. The courtship scene was a little awkward, as it is in real life; The get-together were portrayed with accuracy as well. The only thing that I noticed that was inaccurate was when the sister was out in the ministry wearing pants....That would never happen. Skirts or dresses only, please. The committee scene was very well done - in my home there were cheers as she told off the elders. I did not notice the term apostasy being touched on in the film, but by bringing up 1975 and slamming the Governing Body, it would have been grounds for grounds for apostasy. I wonder if the average non-JW would catch that connection. Again, excellent movie, it should be required of all bible studies to see it before making a commitment to serving a corporation eternally.

The film (Apostasy (2018), attempts to show how a family of Jehovah's Witnesses are affected when confronted with a family member who chooses to flaunt the groups Bible based standards, leading to being disfellowshipped. Also, the issue of blood transfusion is a major theme. My problem with the film is that no effort is made to explain the scriptural basis for their beliefs that have so profound an effect on the decisions governing their lives, but rather a covert appeal is made to the sentiments and sensibilities of those who identify with the characters at an emotional level. The film therefore constitutes a distortion of the truth. This is a misrepresentation of Jehovah's Witnesses and only disfigures the public's perception of them and their bible based beliefs.

Their policies and doctrines are obediently and consistently believed and practiced by all 8 million of them world wide, so unfortunately the hurtful treatment as exhibited in this film of everyone who disagrees with them takes place on a global scale on a daily basis.

Surely the two most fundamental things that a film needs are good acting and a good script. This one had neither. I have no ideological ax to grind, I have no religious beliefs but am interested in religion as a phenomenon. Nobody in this piece came across as sincere or passionate. Blank expressions were the order of the day, and all opportunities for real drama were thrown away. They managed to make potentially promising material simply boring. I couldn't believe in any of the characters or the story itself. All the film managed to achieve was to make the JW cult appear dangerous and ridiculous, which is pretty easy to do. One to avoid in my opinion. See 'First Reformed' instead.

An incredible film shedding light on the rarely seen internal workings of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The attention to detail of Daniel, the crew and cast gives you probably the closest idea of what being a Witness is really like that you are ever going to get bar becoming involved with them yourself and finding out about their shunning policies and so much more when you're already emotionally invested. An honest yet delicately handled portrayal of very emotive situations.

This film is about being a part of a Jehovah's Witness family in the North of England. I was brought up as a JW in England and this film captures the faith and community perfectly. The location of the film fitted the subject matter with its 'grim up North' Ken Loach style. It is very gritty, painfully accurate, and it captures the personalities of a typical JW extremely well. The performance from the actress playing the mother was very strong. I could see her in so many of the JW parents that I encountered when growing up - "just come back to the meetings" is repeated ad nauseum just as it is in the JW religion. This is by far the most realistic portrayal of the JW religion that I have ever seen.

As an ex-JW born into this religion, I can truthfully say this film is very realistic. The dialogue is 100% authentic as to the common retorts of rank and file JWs as well as elders. The film nicely covers the JWs refusal of blood transfusions, as well as the practice of shunning. The ending portrays what life is really like for a faithful JW, who is prepared to give up everything for this religion/cult. It may not be a film enjoyed everyone, but for ex-members and their support network, as well as those interested in Social Psychology, it provides a reliable guide as to why ex-JWs need support and love after they break free. To have your family who you love shun you is a terrible experience that impacts a persons self-identity, self-esteem and belonging, and can have serious mental-health consequences, and suicides. Anyone contemplating joining the religion should watch this film, so they realise what they will have to lose, should they, or their children decide to follow another path a few years down the line. Excellent film, 100% accurate. Well done to the writer/director

Jehovah's Witnesses is one of the most famous sects in the world, yet it doesn't get anywhere near as much exposure as Scientology. This is probably one of the best faith based movies I've ever seen, mostly because it deals with the emotional and moral consequences the things you are taught to believe can have on those you love in a very realistic way. The acting is natural and none of the performers feel like people acting for a movie. It was like getting into the look of a real family and their hardships. As for how Jehovah's Witnesses members themselves are portrayed, the point is not to show them as evil. It's more of a cautionary stance, on whether it's worth jeopardizing your children's lives because of your conviction to follow one certain ideology. The controversy about Jehovah's Witnesses is that you are not allowed to give or receive blood, even in life-threatening circumstances. The mother in this movie is not an inherently bad person, she just can't find a way to balance her love for God and the love for her children. And that has consequences she might wish she would never had to deal with. This movie will stay with you after you've watched it. I urge those who not only are interested in the subject matter of organized sects to see it, but those who think a lot about beliefs and how they can affect other people in general.