A secret cult, missing children, and one woman's attempts to connect the dots before it was too late. These and other intriguing elements defined "The Clearing", which was adapted from J. P. Pomare's novel "In The Clearing" (published, 2019).
Set in the 80s (and spanning the 60s-70s), the story was inspired by true events surrounding a cult known simply as The Family, which operated in secret somewhere in Victoria, Australia.
Their life involved dispensing spiritual practices, a touch of drugs on the side, and an unhealthy manipulation of children's innocence. Suffice to say, none of their decisions aligned with morality and had more to do with profit and influence.
One of the main reasons I wanted to watch this mini-series was because it had three artists whose work I've greatly admired over the years.
Teresa Palmer (as Freya Heywood), Miranda Otto (as Adrienne "Maitreya" Beaufort), and Guy Pearce (as Dr. Bryce Latham) were every bit as amazing as I'd expected them to be. They gave their characters a brilliant blend of intensity and empathy that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The younger talents all did great work in "The Clearing". They brought some old-school nostalgia with a touch of sadness, both of which worked wonderfully for this story.
Set in Australia, and defined by a simple yet unpredictable mystery, "The Clearing" contained a good deal of shock-n-awe value, especially around the children who were either abducted or adopted.
No sexual harm was visited upon them, but the kids did experience something...different. As the story progressed, I learned just how different. The plot twists were captivating and made me want to read Pomare's book.
The children were apparently being handpicked based on how less they'd be missed. Strange hair dyeing and oddly casual activities as part of The Kindred added to the mystery value in the story.
The presence of enablers, couples, and trainers made it all seem like a normal kids' camp or school retreat, but it was anything but. The roots of the cult ran deep and included people in high places.
I kept wondering whether the kids were being trafficked in some capacity. But the truth was not as simple or straightforward. This, more than anything else, kept me glued to the screen.
Some of the beliefs being peddled had ties to Indian spirituality and yogic practices. From life being illusory to the potential of soul transcendence, these and other inherently pure ideas were twisted out of context by some of the cultists. Moreover, the LSD connection added to the intrigue.
The drug was not only used as a potent curative during that era of medicine, it was also grossly misused by those who lost themselves to its ravages and those who used the hallucinogen to convince and control others with the promise of consciousness expansion.
Adrienne Beaufort was one such woman. She wrapped herself in charm and deception, lending the character a beautiful yet sinister presence on screen. As her story unravelled, I appreciated Miranda Otto's performance even more than when I'd hit play on episode one.
The plot shifted between the older versions of some of the characters and what precisely happened to them when they were part of The Kindred. Teresa Palmer's Freya, for instance, was Amy who suffered under the cultists' yoke before the police busted the whole operation years down the line.
Then there was Ada Smith who remade her image and became Adrienne "Maitreya" Beaufort, the leader of said cult. Her origin story was especially interesting.
The final episode brought it all together and delivered some unexpected twists. It was an engaging plotline from beginning to end.
Because it's a mini-series, expecting a second season would be wishful thinking. Be that as it may, "The Clearing" put up a noteworthy show, one based on true events.
There was much worth appreciating and deriding about this story. It was a stark reminder of how easily our delusions can drown us, only for us to call it faith as we relinquish the last bubbles of our existence.
"The Clearing" was as much about crimes that escaped justice as it was about a broken family, most of whom lived in denial about just how badly their souls were damaged.
.........
Some riveting work by Kate Mulvany (as Tamsin Latham), Anna Lise Phillips (as Hannah Wilczek), and Erroll Shand as (Henrik Wilczek), each of whom amplified the creep factor.
Some of the kids gave compelling performances. Great work Lily LaTorre (as Sara/Asha), Flynn Wandin (as Billy Heywood), Julia Savage as (Amy Beaufort), and Jeremy Blewitt (as Anton Beaufort).
Remarkable performance from Hazem Shammas (as Yusuf Joe Saad), Harry Greenwood (as older Anton Beaufort), Mark Coles Smith (as Wayne Dhurrkay), Miah Madden (as Max Dhurrkay), Xavier Samuel (as Colin Garrison), Ewen Leslie (as Tom Atkins), Anni Finsterer (as Evelyn Smith), Claudia Karvan (as Mariam Herzog), Kristof Kaczmarek (as Ari Herzog), and Jamie Timony as (older Adam).
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