While this story was based on truth, certain liberties may have been taken to make this seem more mainstream. Firstly, if you had visited a doctor, worked in a bank, and he showed up the next week, running into you (and subsequently asking for help with a loan) wouldn't you be a bit suspicious? We live in age where you should not even give your date of birth over the phone; most people even if they were in horrible pain/stress, may have needed a lot more persuasion and incentive to get to the level of cult brainwashing that this film professes.
Yet, by the same token, there are many people susceptible to these groups. Feeling alienated, depressed, overwhelmed with family issues; the film does show how Joan Van Ark, as the victim, is persuaded by the doctor/guru (Daniel Hugh Kelley) to seek a new path, and joint "The Institute".
Tom Kurlander is very good as the cult programmer, who eventually is called into the case. Overall it is an interesting message, but could have been presented a bit more believably. 5/10.
