Medicine Man: The Stan Brock Story 
Directed by Paul Michael Angell 
★★★★ 

 
 FROM Amazonian cowboy and giant snake wrestler to US TV and film star and, more importantly, the provider of free healthcare to those in need, this inspirational documentary chronicles the life and legacy of British-born Stan Brock. 
 
Ten years in the making and offering unprecedented access to Brock and his life’s work — principally the creation of Remote Area Medical (RAM) — writer-director Paul Michael Angell’s intimate and captivating debut film shows the difference one person can make. 
 
Brock, who took a vow of poverty, dedicated his life to setting up RAM pop-up clinics in the US delivering free quality dental, vision and medical services for free to people who did not have access to or could not afford a doctor. RAM, founded in 1985, has treated almost a million individuals providing over $200 million worth of treatment. The images of thousands queuing up overnight for these services is heartbreaking, and more so when some learn they have cancer. 
 
You share Brock’s anger and frustration at not being able to bring medics and dentists from other states to his clinics because they are not allowed to cross state lines by law to provide free care. “This is insane,” states Brock.
 
The documentary outlines the stark realities of healthcare inequality in America and is a cautionary tale to those in the UK wanting to privatise the NHS or replace it with a universal private healthcare system. It demonstrates that access to healthcare is fundamentally a human rights issue and shouldn’t be treated as a political football. 
 
Brock was an unbelievable humanitarian who changed laws and sacrificed everything in his power to make a difference, and this is a fitting tribute to the ex-cowboy from Preston. 

In select cinemas and on streaming platforms October 4

Children of the Cult (15)
Directed by Maroesja Perizonius & Alice McShane
★★★★ 

 
 20 years after her debut documentary, Child of the Commune, Dutch filmmaker Maroesja Perizonius returns with an in-depth investigation into the Rajneesh cult movement which lifts the lid on how children were sexually abused and mistreated within the communes, including in Britain, in the 1970s and ’80s. 
 
Perizonius, a former victim herself, speaks to a number of fellow survivors who talk candidly about their harrowing experiences. She also unmasks and confronts perpetrators, and grills some of the closest members of the cult’s inner circle, demanding answers. Their response will leave you shaken and incandescent.
 
The result is a powerful and thought-provoking film which proves very difficult viewing. Particularly the testimonies from ex-victims who reveal how they were raped from the age of 12, while others were seven or eight. The film states how girls were fitted with diaphragms as soon as they reached puberty. 
 
Binu divulges how she kept a list of all the men she slept with. Around 150 over four years from 12 to 16 years old.  
 
The denial from the perpetrators and top-ranking cult members is sick-inducing. 
 
What is galling is that while the cult is still flourishing today no-one has been held to account for the harm they caused to children. 

In cinemas October 4

Joker: Folie A Deux (15)
Directed by Todd Phillips
★★★ 

 
 JOAQUIN PHOENIX teams up with co-writer-director Todd Phillips again for an all-singing and tap-dancing bonkers sequel to Joker. 
 
This is partly a deconstructed musical in which Arthur Fleck/Joker (Phoenix) starts to sing whenever he plunges into his fantasy world. This worsens when he meets the equally insane Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) at Arkham while he is awaiting trial for committing five murders. 
 
The film starts with a cartoon short feature of Joker bursting into “What the World Needs Now Is Love” setting the audacious and sadly musical tone for the rest of the drama. 
 
Phoenix, looking painfully thin, gives another virtuoso performance as Arthur who is now struggling with his identity as Joker. Is he Arthur or Joker? Lady Gaga is superb as Lee going toe to toe with Phoenix. 
 
Although bold and daring, what the world (or certainly this film) didn’t need now was so many musical numbers.

In cinemas October 4

A Different Man (15)
Directed by Aaron Schimberg
★★★ 

 
 THIS surreal and thought-provoking thriller wants you to question the idea of identities, as a man with deformed features has his life upended after taking an experimental miracle treatment. 
 
An unrecognisable Sebastian Stan gives a tour de force performance as the aspiring actor Edward who transforms from the Elephant Man into a handsome guy, losing the stage role he was born to play and his close friendship with neighbour and wannabe playwright Ingrid (Renate Reinsve). Adam Pearson is superlative as Oswald, who looks like Edward’s former self, and sweeps in and takes both his dream part and the girl. 
 
Written and directed by Aaron Schimberg this is bold and provocative while being terribly unsettling. 
 
It will stay with you long after the end credits have rolled. 
 
In cinemas October 4