July 15, 2000. Most people probably don't recall where they were or what they were doing on this particular date, but for Alex Jones it's a date that's in all likelihood quite personally historic. He wasn't in his studio at the time hosting his radio show but rather helping to make this unforgettable, obscure classic, as an undercover investigative journalist.
Nestled deep in the remote, timbered regions of northern California, among the redwood forest, lies an estimated 2,700-acre plot of land called Bohemian Grove; a pilgrimage point for various global elites, who annually flock to this secluded place to do God only knows what.
Not too much is known about what goes on at these yearly get-togethers, which are said to last a fortnight, but rumors and speculation abound. As it stands, it's been a men's-only summer camp and there are those who surmise that nothing goes on here other than innocuous fraternizing. Others are of the opinion that this is a site where the movers and shakers and other contrivers of the world assemble to do their covert plotting and scheming. Much of the speculation in regard to Bohemian Grove is fairly down-to-earth, yet questions still remain as to the primary reason for this gathering place and why since its inception so much secrecy surrounds it.
Enter Alex Jones. His goal is to get inside the Grove and to secretly record its goings-on. As one who hasn't been invited, he eventually makes his way inside as an incognito and gate-crasher of sorts, all the while secretly videotaping his mission with the aid of a hidden camera attached to his body.
Suffice to say that the technical aspects of this documentary are of rather low quality. Once inside the Grove, there is much camera instability as a result of Jones constantly on the move, walking here and there throughout the campground. As we follow Jones trekking through this heavily wooded territory, with the picture image bobbing up and down in sync with his footsteps, it kind of felt like I was sitting through certain spooky scenes from "The Blair Witch Project." There isn't much voice-over narration during these moments of the film; this silence, combined with the jittery footage, gives DARK SECRETS INSIDE BOHEMIAN GROVE a certain atmospheric quality.
The first hour of the film is basically a lead-up to the main event. We watch Alex Jones as he prepares for his journey, study a map of the area, hit the open road, and consult with an accompanying film crew in a motel room as to the best route inside the Grove. The last hour follows Jones inside the mysterious encampment, all the while with the momentum of the movie leading up to its climax: a rather bizarre vespertine ceremony, centered around a 40-foot stone statue of an owl.
'Tis a curious commemoration, to say the least. In the dark of the night a gathering of approximately 1500-2000 men sit in a clearing among the trees, oohing and aahing as they observe a strange rite or stage play, performed by men in robes, at the foot of this massive idol. The nocturnal ambience of the outdoors combined with the faint chirping of crickets that can be heard provide these final few moments with an almost otherworldly component. The ceremony, which includes some strange operatic chanting, is narrated by what sounds like a pre-recorded monologue of an eerily voiced man reciting cryptic verses or just plain meaningless doggerel.
Is this all simply harmless playacting for the amusement of the so-called "Bohemians," or is there possibly something very real and sinister going on? Whatever the case, Bohemian Grove has been in existence for over 120 years and to this day much mystery surrounds it. Kudos to Alex Jones for attempting to uncover what this annual event and creepy ceremony is all about.
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