Journeys: Understanding Psilocybin Psychedelic Therapy
April 28th, 2026
MOVIE: JOURNEYS: UNDERSTANDING PSILOCYBIN PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY
STARRING: DR. LIDA FATEMI, DR. IAN LUEPKER
DIRECTED BY: CHRISTOPHER JAMES CRAMER
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 1 STAR (Out of 4)
RATED: N/A
RUN TIME: 118 MINUTES
As someone who is as pro-therapy as anyone, I was intrigued by the idea of a documentary exploring psychedelic alternatives. I’ve never tried mushrooms myself, though I have some experience with THC edibles and drinks, and I’m well aware of the benefits they’ve provided for many people. Sadly, director Christopher James Cramer’s Journeys: Understanding Psilocybin Psychedelic Therapy is a one-note informational film that fails to meaningfully explore why someone might pursue this alternative form of treatment.
Before getting into what works—and there are interesting elements here—the biggest problem is that Journeys feels more like homework than a documentary. Cramer’s format stretches to nearly two hours, consisting almost entirely of talking heads: experts in the field, advocates sharing personal experiences, and cultivators explaining the process. These interviews are intercut with familiar, often generic imagery—mushrooms growing, flickering neon visuals, and stock footage of nature. None of it serves a clear purpose beyond reinforcing what’s already being said. The result is repetitive, monotonous, and ultimately disengaging.
In many ways, I’m the ideal audience for a film like this. I’m open to alternative therapy and interested in the expansion of mental health treatments. Cramer assembles a wide range of credible voices, including doctors who advocate for psychedelic therapy, as well as individuals—particularly military veterans—who speak to its effectiveness in treating PTSD. These are compelling perspectives, but the film introduces them early and then fails to build on them. There’s no deeper inquiry, no evolving perspective, and no clear angle to justify its feature-length runtime.
At a certain point, Journeys begins to resemble something else entirely. Last year, I reviewed Unbanked, a film about Bitcoin that played more like propaganda than a documentary. This feels similar—psychedelic propaganda. While I believe there is value in exploring all forms of therapy and helping people find what works for them, Journeys: Understanding Psilocybin Psychedelic Therapy comes across more as an infomercial for non-traditional medicine than a thoughtful examination of it.
There’s certainly an audience for this, particularly those already invested in or curious about entering the psychedelic therapy space. But with a more focused perspective—whether that be a deeper dive into cultivation, observational footage of guided experiences, or an exploration of its cultural and legal standing—this could have been something far more compelling. As it stands, this Journeys never quite takes off.
1 STAR
JOURNEYS: UNDERSTANDING PSILOCYBIN ASSISTED PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON APPLE TV, AMAZON PRIME, GOOGLE PLAY, AND MORE.
Written by: Leo Brady
