If you love fake documentaries and Jon Ronson, you should definitely watch The Conspiracy. The Conspiracy is a fake documentary about two filmmakers who set out to make a film about a local conspiracy theorist then become obsessed with his work to uncover an alleged global secret society called the Tarsus club. The Conspiracy works because it successfully and simultaneously offers thee explanations. First, there is a global secret society, and it is harmful. Second, one of the filmmakers may be suffering from mental illness. Third, there is a global secret society, and it is benevolent.
Normally I don’t like it when films use real life tragedies such as 9/11 as plot points, but because The Conspiracy effectively builds tension and ends on a disturbingly ambiguous note, it works. The Conspiracy reminded me of a successful version of a movie called Kill List. I really enjoyed the cult pagan elements of the film.
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I watch too many movies so I was not surprised that the bull sacrifice ended up being a human sacrifice. Also the movie cover gives away the plot twist. Also it is always ridiculous to expect that you can sneak into an initiation ceremony unnoticed, especially if there are a certain number of masks. Presumably everyone knows who was invited, and there are a set number of people expected to arrive so either your cover will be blown, or THEY are expecting you. I really appreciated that The Conspiracy dealt with this absurd trope realistically and chillingly.
Once the secret society hijacks and appropriates the fake documentary for their own purposes and propaganda, The Conspiracy succeeds where most found footage or fake documentaries fail. Whether or not one of the filmmakers is dead, they win, and no one can stop them. Even revolt is turned into an effective tool in the service of the Taurus Club. I personally think that one of the filmmakers is dead because we never see him again.
Side note: how good of an actor is Julian Richings if you never see his face and just hear his voice and KNOW that you are watching him.