The Shuroo Process

The Shuroo Process is a 2021 American comedy-drama film directed by Emrhys Cooper, written by Cooper and Donal Brophy, produced by Glen Trotiner, Benjamin J. Murray, Lynn Mancinelli, Brophy, and Cooper, and starring Fiona Dourif, Brophy, Tommy Dorfman, Cooper, Rainey Qualley, Olivia Sui, Taylor Bagley, Cornelia Guest, Mancinelli, Jeff Burnett, Rachel McDowall, Jeff Hephner, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and Brad Dourif. Zachary Quinto served as an executive producer of the film.

Premise

When a successful NYC journalist Parker Schafer, frustrated with the pressures of a failing publishing world and a less than promising romantic life, becomes infatuated by a wildly charismatic self-help guru it sends her on a journey of self-improvement with catastrophic consequences.

Synopsis

A New York City journalist, frustrated with a failing publishing world and romantic life, is sent on a journey of self-improvement with catastrophic consequences. Driven by success and social status, Parker Schafer is thrown off the rails when her longtime boyfriend kicks her out of their apartment and returns to his ex-wife. Parker plunges into a drug fueled downward spiral, ruins her reputation, is fired and destroys her once glamorous life. Parker decides to try a wellness retreat, with the famed Guru Shuroo, in the Catskills. Over three days, a diverse group of unlikely friends are brought together through Shuroo’s guided meditation, yoga, and other more unorthodox healing methods: mescaline trips and fraud. Parker uncovers a damaging story that will expose Shuroo and have the power to put her back on top. But will she find redemption? The Shuroo Process explores the dangers of the self-help industry and what it is like to fall prey to its promises of transformation.

Cast

Fiona Dourif as Parker Schafer
Donal Brophy as Declan Costigan
Taylor Bagley as Seraphina
Eric Roberts as himself
Brad Dourif as Dr. Feinstein
Emrhys Cooper as D'arcy
Tommy Dorfman as Mark
Rainey Qualley as Nadia
Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Willie
Olivia Sui as Nini
Cornelia Guest as Jane
Rachel McDowall as Edie
Lynn Mancinelli as Stormy
Jeff Hephner as Adrian

Release

In September 2021, it was announced that Gravitas Ventures acquired North American distribution rights to the film, which premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 1, 2021 and was released theatrically and on demand on November 24, 2021.

Reception

Benjamin Franz of Film Threat gave the film an 8 out of 10 and wrote, "Ultimately, a showcase of acting and storytelling comes down to the strength of both the narrative and the performance. The Shuroo Process provides us with wonderful examples of both."