Gwen Shamblin has the hair of a televangelist, the diet plan of a Kardashian and the moral compass of a Bond villain.
She builds a multimillion-dollar empire by equating thinness with godliness—and obedience with salvation.
I rank this doc #9 on my list of “The Best Religious Cult Documentaries” (out of 14); and #12 on my list of “The Best Cult Documentaries” (out of 34!).
Trailer for “The Way Down”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Gwen Shamblin styled her hair higher over the years—reportedly to symbolize her growing spiritual “connection” to God.
- She justified her extreme weight-loss teachings by referencing the Holocaust as proof that genetics play no role in weight.
- Gwen is caught on tape praising parents for locking their child in a room. An 8-year-old child of Remnant members died after being repeatedly locked in a room and beaten…Gwen remained unapologetic and denied any responsibility
- Husband Joe Lara, who never held a pilot’s license, flew the plane that crashed in May 2021—killing himself, Gwen, and five other church leaders.
Watch “The Way Down”
You can watch “The Way Down” on HBO Max.
You can also check JustWatch for updated streaming options.
Ratings
- My Rating: 89/100
- IMDB Rating: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 85/100 (Users); 80/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Marina Zenovich directed this 5-part HBO Max docuseries. She’s also known for “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind” (which I rank 96/100).
Release Date: Part 1 aired September 30, 2021; Part 2 aired April 28, 2022.
My Review of “The Way Down”
The Setup
Gwen Shamblin Lara mixed dieting with church. Her Weigh Down Workshop said hunger came from God—and gaining weight meant you were sinning.
She started Remnant Fellowship Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. From the outside, it looked like a fitness church. But inside, people were watched, told who to marry, punished often, and tested to prove their loyalty during Bible study.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Gwen said kids who disobeyed needed harsher punishment. She once told parents, “If they’re not scared of spanking, you haven’t spanked them yet.”
- She told parents to use glue sticks to spank kids and to lock them in “training rooms.” Former members said this was abuse.
- Footage from a reality show (aired only after Gwen’s death) showed how much she focused on her looks and rehearsed her public image.
- Followers were told to cut off family members who didn’t follow church rules. This helped Remnant control its members.
- Gwen left her first husband, an overweight pastor, and married Joe Lara—a failed actor best known for playing Tarzan in a made-for-TV movie.
- Michael Shamblin, Gwen’s son and the church’s music leader, said Joe Lara once pointed a sniper rifle at him. He also said he struggled with his weight under his mom’s public teachings.
- Remnant leaders said grief showed a “lack of faith.” When Gwen’s daughter lost her 5-month-old baby, the church never spoke about it.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Natasha Pavlovich, Joe Lara’s ex, said he abused her and shared disturbing details from their custody battle.
- Former members gave public testimonies—including secret recordings from leadership meetings and punishment sessions.
- Local reporters and cult experts said Gwen stayed under the radar for years, even with clear red flags and legal problems.
- Michael Shamblin wrote all of Remnant’s music. He said the pressure to stay thin and act holy nearly broke him.
- Remnant built a compound in Brentwood where leaders lived, worked, and homeschooled their kids under Gwen’s rules.
- The FAA said Joe Lara likely crashed the plane because he got disoriented. He had almost no flight experience and no license.
- After Gwen’s death, her daughter Elizabeth Shamblin Hannah took over. She kept showing old videos of Gwen as if they were new messages.
Wrap Up
“The Way Down” is a haunting exposé of how diet culture, charisma, and unchecked power warped a church.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc