In Bright Axiom

If you have never heard of unfiction, ARGs or "house of latitude", then this documentary will make very little sense. Some of the critical reviewers here thinks that this is a mockumentary, which it actually is not. Granted, there are a few reenactment scenes, but they work well for illustrating what the participants would have experienced. The people in this documentary participated in a sort of role playing game, where they pretended to be members of a secret society seeking to change the world. To begin with they did not know that this secret society was pure fiction and entertainment, hence some of them were not sure what was going on and if they were joining a cult. A bit like how entering an escape room, without knowing that it is an escape room, would confuse you even though the point is that you are supposed to have fun. These events really did happen. The documentary however does not explain this at all, and if you do not know about what this type of entertainment is or who Jeff Hull is, then everything will seem like pure nonsense. If they had added 15 minutes in the beginning to explain some of this, then it would probably make a lot more sense, and seem less like a seriously messed up mockumentary.

If you _do_ know, and perhaps even enjoy, unfiction and ARGs, then this documentary is really great and pretty much essential viewing. It evolves around subjects like what makes people interested in such, and the kind of unique experiences they can bring to participants. I think it is especially noteworthy how both the players and the creator(s) of "Latitude" tell us what made the experience great, and what could/should have been better. It is rare that unfiction/ARG pieces are as big and elaborate as in this example, but regardless it does a good job telling how you as a creator need to think a bit ahead and look at things from above once in a while, in order to avoid serious flaws. I think Jeff Hull made something really great and unique with "Latitude", but instead of only criticizing the participants for the downfall, it would have been nice if he had also looked a bit inwards. It could have been avoided with a few simple adjustments IMO. Just because you are kind enough to give people free drinks, does not mean that those people owe it to you to ignore any shortcomings that you yourself is responsible for. Jeff makes fantastic creative and social experiences, but a business man he is not.

This mockumentary shows us how absolute desperate some individuals (read millennials) are to feel part of something. Something big. And important. While remaining on the fringe because they're edgy.

It was semi unbearable to listen to some of the blatherings in the confessional interviews.

Someone decided to string random words together and create a mock religion and pretend to chase self important and easily manipulated characters into thinking they were chosen.

I hope the people were all in on the joke. Bright axiom and high pretensioness.

I'm not sure I can watch it all. Does everyone involved in this get the gag? The con?

An interesting look at what people are willing to believe when it comes to their own insecurities. The cinematography is pretty wild and the idea is cool. It's definitely a documentary that will have you googling after!

While it's ambitious, interesting, and a manifestation of a true talent's development, I'm left sure of only one thing: The people behind this are most likely quite insufferable...

This plays like a bunch of wannabe actors got together and pooled their money to make the movie they were never cast in due to a lack of talent. Surely some of them were conned, but they expect the rest of us to buy their con as well. Maybe out of some sense of shame? If I can con you into joining my hipster cult, I'll feel less shame that I got conned? Regardless, this is less documentary and more shameless performance art. And bad performance art at that.