You've never seen Jonestown like this.

The remote Guyana outpost of cult leader Jim Jones' Peoples Temple, Jonestown was the site of a 1978 massacre that resulted in the deaths of more than 900 people.

In his new documentary "605 Adults 304 Children," California-based filmmaker Michael Mahaffie compiles video and audio materials created by Peoples Temple members themselves, giving viewers a chilling look inside the community.

"I really wanted people to understand that these aren’t just a bunch of crazy people that went off into the jungle and killed themselves," said Mahaffie. "I wanted people to actually experience them and hear them speak and see maybe themselves in them."

"605 Adults 304 Children" screens 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 as part of the United States Super 8 Film and Digital Video Festival, part of the New Jersey Film Festival at Voorhees Hall, 71 Hamilton St. on the College Avenue campus of Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

Mahaffie primarily works as an editor, with credits including the unsettling 2016 cult expose "Holy Hell." For "605 Adults 304 Children," he utilized material from 13 of the approximately 20 reels of 8mm footage shot by Jonestown residents that is now in the possession of the California Historical Society.

The final 13-minute film is intentionally devoid of historical context. The lack of talking head experts or contemporary news footage has a psychologically immersive effect, conveying the isolated mindset that must have been felt by Peoples Temple members.

“Depicting the plenty, the happiness, the music, it kind of looks desirable," said Mahaffie. "It seems like a little bit of a utopia. There are smiles everywhere, no one ever wants to leave. There’s something about it that is beautiful as well as horrifying, and I like that contrast.”

Of course, these aren't just home movies. The footage — showing off the bountiful food stores, the booming agriculture and, most importantly, the smiling faces of men, women and children — was created as propaganda.

And there's Jones himself, directly addressing the camera as he tried to advance his own brand as a cultural influencer. Mahaffie is a self-professed lover of YouTube content, and his subtle, modern editing gives "605 Adults 304 Children" the feeling of a contemporary vlog.

“They didn’t grow any of that stuff themselves," Mahaffie said. "They would buy a bunch of produce and take photos in front of it to make it seem like they were growing it, but they weren’t doing (anything) out there. All of that footage is propaganda footage. So I see the film (material) that way, as a propaganda film to try to reel you in."

United States Super 8 Film and Digital Video Festival, part of the New Jersey Film Festival, 7 p.m Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 at Voorhees Hall, 71 Hamilton St., College Avenue campus of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, $9 to $12, 848-932-8482, www.njfilmfest.com.

This spring, there will be film festivals and screening series bringing must-see movies to screens across the state. Here are some you don't want to miss:

Arthouse Film Festival

The Arthouse Film Festival comes with a promise of quality while asking for faith on the part of the viewer. That's because the series does not reveal in advance what films will be screening.

Since launching in 1990, the festival has built up a track record that speaks for itself. In 2018 alone, its films — including "Green Book," "First Man," "Cold War" and "At Eternity's Gate" — went on to earn 16 Oscar nominations and a dozen Golden Globe nominations.

The spring 2019 session runs Mondays March 4 to May 6 at AMC Mountainside and Wednesdays March 6 to May 8 at AMC Monmouth Mall, Eatontown.

For registration and more information, visit www.arthousefilmfestival.com.

Garden State Film Festival

Hundreds of independent films from around the world will screen in Asbury Park for the 17th annual Garden State Film Festival, happening March 27 to 31.

The festival launches with the World War II drama "The Bird Catcher," screening at the historic Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park Boardwalk 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 29.

For tickets, a full schedule of screenings and more information, visit www.gsff.org.



New Jersey Film Festival

The Spring 2019 edition of the New Jersey Film Festival is — like the previously-mentioned 2019 United States Super 8mm Film and Digitial Video Festival — presented by the Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center and the Rutgers University Program In Cinema Studies.

The festival runs through Friday, March 1, at Voorhees Hall, 71 Hamilton St,., College Avenue campus of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Tickets are $8 to $12.

For more information, call 848-932-8482 or visit www.njfilmfest.com.

New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival

Returning to the Showboat on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival is happening March 29 to 31.

While we're still waiting for the festival to announce its schedule of films (the final entry deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 12), confirmed guests include shocker cinema fixtures like horror host Joe Bob Briggs, "Swamp Thing" and "Creepshow" star Adrienne Barbeau and "Sleepaway Camp" icon Felissa Rose.

For all of the latest information, visit www.newjerseyhorrorcon.com.

Horror Church/Graveyard Shift

Classic scares are back on the big screen in downtown Asbury Park thanks to Horror Church, the awesome Sunday morning screening series presented by Paranormal Books and Curiosities and the ShowRoom Cinema once a month at the Cookman Avenue moviehouse.

Graveyard Shift, the 10 p.m. Friday night spin-off, is presented by Asbury Park businesses Paranormal Books and Curiosities, Red Rose Bakery, Rebel Supply Co. and Groovy Graveyard.

Upcoming Horror Church screenings include "Dracula's Daughter" (Feb. 17), "Son of Frankenstein" (March 17), "Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (April 14), "The Black Cat" (May 19), "The Invisible Ray" (June 23) and "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (July 21).

Graveyard Shift selections are currently scheduled to include "An American Werewolf in London" (Feb. 15), "The Exorcist" (March 15), "The Shining" (April 12), "The Evil Dead" (May 17), "Nightmare on Elm Street" (June 21) and "Jaws" (July 19).

The Horror Church/Graveyard Shift schedule is subject to change. For tickets and the latest information, visit For more information, visit theshowroomap.com or call 732-502-0472.

Asbury Park Music and Film Festival

The arts and community celebration known as the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival returns to the Jersey Shore April 25 to 28.

Details for this year's event have not yet been made public, but previous iterations of APMFF have brought A-list stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Danny DeVito, Wyclef Jean and Don Cheadle to Asbury Park.

Presented by founding partners RWJ Barnabas Health and the Asbury Park Press, the festival raises funds for music programs for children in the Asbury Park area.

Be sure to follow the Asbury Park Press for updates on the 2019 Asbury Park Music and Film Festival. For more information, visit www.apmff.org.