Born in Synanon
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| image_size =
| genre =
| director = Geeta Gandbhir
| writer =
| opentheme =
| country = United States
| num_seasons =
| num_episodes = 4
| music = Laura Heinzinger
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Geeta Gandbhir
- Cassidy Arkin
- Jonathan K. Bendis
- Jessica Cozzetta
- Sandra Rogers-Hare
- Terrence Wrong
- Susan Zirinsky
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Jamie Schutz
- Steven Cantor
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
- Terrance Redd Claiborne
- Jerry Henry
}}
| editor = {{Plainlist|
- Anna Auster
- Alex Keipper
}}
| language = English
| runtime = 55-58 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Stick Figure Productions
- See It Now Studios
}}
| network = Paramount+
| first_aired = {{Start date|2023|12|12}}
| last_aired =
}}
Born in Synanon is an American documentary series directed and produced by Geeta Gandbhir. It follows Cassidy Arkin as she searches to learn the truth about Synanon, a group which developed into a cult.
It premiered on December 12, 2023, on Paramount+.{{cite web|url=https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/releases/?view=108804-td|title=Born in Synanon to Premiere on Tuesday, December 12|website=Paramount Press Express|date=November 16, 2023|access-date=April 11, 2024}}
Premise
Cassidy Arkin searches to learn the truth about Synanon, a group which she was raised in, as it developed into a cult.{{cite web|url=https://www.themarysue.com/born-in-synanon-cassidy-arkin-and-sandra-rogers-hare-interview/|title=Ex-Synanon Members Break Down Cult’s Mixed Legacy and What America Can Learn From It|website=The Mary Sue|first=Rachel|last=Ulatowski|date=January 29, 2024|access-date=April 11, 2024}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#000000 |overall= |title= |director= |airdate=|country=U.S.|episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Individual Reality
|DirectedBy = Geeta Gandbhir
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|12|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = The People-Raising Business
|DirectedBy = Geeta Gandbhir
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|12|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Great Flip of the Box
|DirectedBy = Geeta Gandbhir
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|12|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = End of Utopia
|DirectedBy = Geeta Gandbhir
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|12|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
}}
Production
For over twenty years, Cassidy Arkin had been collecting materials and interviews regarding Synanon. Arkin later met Geeta Gandbhir and discussed her vision for a documentary series revolving around her growing up in Synanon.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/synanon-born-cassidy-arkin-geeta-gandbhir-1235896319/|title=‘The Dream of What It Was’: ‘Born in Synanon’ Probes a Cult’s Legacy Through a Child’s Eye|website=Variety|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|date=February 3, 2024|access-date=April 11, 2024}} Gandbhir incorporated archival footage of the group, with long sequences of The Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/arts/television/synanon-love-has-won-documentary.html|title=Synanon and Love Has Won, Two Cults With New Docs|website=The New York Times|first=Chris|last=Vognar|date=December 11, 2023|access-date=April 11, 2024}}
Reception
=Critical reception=
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|80||5|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=born_in_synanon|title=Born in Synanon|type=tv|season=1|access-date=April 11, 2024|publisher_hide=y}}
Chris Vognar of Rolling Stone praised the series writing: "A thoughtful series that grows richer with each of its four episodes, Born in Synanon is as much a personal journey as a historical study, although it ultimately manages to be both."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/born-in-synanon-rehab-cult-the-game-docuseries-attack-therapy-1234923038/|title=‘Born in Synanon’: How a Rehab Turned Hellish Cult Preyed on Kids|website=Rolling Stone|first=Chris|last=Vognar|date=December 11, 2023|access-date=April 11, 2024}} Joel Keller of Decider wrote: "Born In Synanon is unique among cult-related docuseries because it shows that not all cults start because of one person’s narcissism and messiah complex."{{cite web|url=https://decider.com/2023/12/12/born-in-synanon-paramount-plus-review/|title=Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Born In Synanon’ On Paramount+, A Docuseries About A Woman Finding Out About The Experimental Community That Became A Cult|website=Decider|first=Joel|last=Keller|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=April 11, 2024}}
Conversely, in a negative review, Nick Schager of The Daily Beast wrote: "Born in Synanon's framework resonates from the get-go as counterfeit, and the same goes for its lovey-dovey snapshot of Synanon’s origins."{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/born-in-synanon-review-inside-the-violent-california-cult?ref=author|title=This Drug Rehab Center Turned Into a Violent Cult|website=The Daily Beast|first=Nick|last=Schager|date=December 11, 2023|access-date=April 11, 2024}}
References
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