Search - Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children Movie Release: 1980 DVD Release: 02/15/2005 Format: DVD SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 55 mins Studio: Vci Video Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Drama, Docudrama

"Names have been changed to protect the innocent" in this infamous fictionalization of the tragic mass suicide of 914 followers of Jim Jones' "People's Temple" in Guyana in the fall of 1978. Rev. James Johnson (Stuart Whitman) is a charismatic but deeply paranoid man of the cloth who moves his flock from Northern California to a settlement in Guyana, where he intends to create an interracial socialist utopia. Addicted to prescription drugs and convinced he is surrounded by enemies, Johnson rules his colony, "Johnsontown," with an iron fist, torturing anyone who violates his rule, seducing both women and men from his congregation, confiscating money and property from his followers, and forcing them to work long hours in the fields for meager rations. Lee O'Brien (Gene Barry), a California congressman who represents the district Johnson and his followers once called home, has received complaints from friends and relatives of the Johnsontown settlers, convinced something is wrong. O'Brien and a team of reporters fly to Guyana to find out the truth about what is happening; Johnson is convinced O'Brien has seen too much, and armed gunmen ambush his party before they can return to the United States (with a number of Johnsontown residents who wish to leave). After a failed attempt to arrange exile in the Soviet Union, Johnson convinced his followers to perform a "final revolutionary act" before authorities arrive. This oddball blend of fact and fiction also features Joseph Cotten and John Ireland as Johnson's lawyers, Yvonne de Carlo as Johnsontown's press officer, and Bradford Dillman as the doctor who mixes the punch for Johnson's final gathering. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Stuart Whitman - Rev. James Johnson
Gene Barry - Congressman Lee O'Brien
John Ireland - David Cole
Joseph Cotten - Richard Gable
Bradford Dillman - Dr. Gary Shaw

One of the most sought-after cult films of the 1980s finally gets a home-video release in the United States, though the final product might leave a bit to be desired for some fans. Guyana: Crime of the Century (better known in the United States under its American release title, Guyana, Cult of the Damned, which is name checked on the cover) has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio, and the English-language audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono, with no subtitles or multiple language options. The only bonus materials included are biographies for several of the cast members (which include some glaring typos) and trailers for other DVD releases from VCI Entertainment. Unfortunately, the quality of the source materials isn't especially good, with the image dark and murky through most of the film and the resolution suggesting this was mastered from an aging tape source. Just as significantly, this release presents a cult version of the film, which eliminates several incidents of nudity from the original cut (as if anyone was expecting wholesome and responsible entertainment from this movie?). Still, given its low price and easy availability, this release will be a no-brainer for fans of strange cinema, though the definitive video version of this picture still waits to be released. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide