Wormwood Netflix doccie explores CIA LSD mind control experiments
Wormwood is a new documentary all about the CIA and their use of LSD in the murky world of spies and espionage.
Netflix may be the relatively new kid on the block, but they are bringing out some of the most gripping series covering the most intriguing subjects.
The latest project on their bill is a new documentary miniseries called Wormwood, set for release this month and helmed by Errol Morris, iconic director of The Thin Blue Line and The Fog of War.
Aptly named Wormwood looks into the human/mind control experiments conducted by the CIA known as Project MKUltra.
The operation, in which the CIA used unknowing people as test subjects in their attempt to create mind-controlling drugs to use against the Soviets, began in the 1950s and was officially terminated in 1973.
Frank Olson’s trip
One such test subject was bacteriologist and CIA employee Frank Olson, who was covertly dosed with LSD by a superior.
Frank Olson died 9 days later, after falling from a New York hotel room window.
Naturally his death was ruled suicide by the trustworthy government, though many people refused to believe this claim.
One of them is Frank Olson’s son Eric, who has dedicated the majority of his life to trying to put the puzzle pieces together and establish the true circumstances of his father’s death as well as foiling a suspected CIA cover-up.
The Olson family was ‘awarded’ $750 000 as a settlement around two decades after Frank’s death, which speaks volumes on its own.
Wormwood stars Peter Sarsgaard, Molly Parker and Bob Balaban, combining interview segments with dramatic reenactments.
Watch the trailer for Netflix presents Wormwood: Out on December 15.
