The Synanon Fix is a four-part HBO documentary series directed and produced by Rory Kennedy. It tells the story of the Synanon, an addict recovery program that some say became a cult.

Charles E. “Chuck” Dederich Sr. is a recovering alcoholic who moves to Badger, California, and decides to change how addicts recover from drinking and drugs. At first, his methods puzzle outsiders, but many find that they actually help. As such, many travel to Synanon and it grows into a community of people helping each other. As Chuck gets a taste of that power, it soon grows beyond helping addicts, and the members are asked to do more and more bizarre things.

This documentary series is well-made. All four episodes tell a story about how a man started an addiction recovery that used controversial methods. It established a timeline and gave us a ton of information that was shocking. The filmmakers did an excellent job of telling this tale.

Is it a true crime documentary or a simple look at a man consumed with power? I am not sure. Through interviews with former members, we get an understanding of what they went through, but also the confusion. As the rules got stricter, many still held on because they had been saved, but it slowly got out of control. Hearing it firsthand, you feel a plethora of emotions and from that standpoint, it makes the documentary worth watching.

Check out the trailer below:

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Disturbing topics

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