Afterlife: Beyond The Light

NOW ON VOD! Floating above a room and viewing your body down below being worked on by hospital staff; feeling enshrouded by a warm, loving energy; being immersed in stars and bright lights. Stories like these are some of the many near-death experiences discussed in the documentary Afterlife: Beyond The Light.

Director Constance Brenneman sets out on a journey to learn more about an event that universally connects all living things throughout the ages: death. By interviewing several people who have had a near-death experience (NDE), this documentary keeps things simple, relying on the stories and lives that are impacted.

To add further credibility, Brenneman has invited Dr. Raymond Moody, the world-renowned psychiatrist who coined the phrase “NDE” and authored the 1975 book Life After Life. Dr. Moody has interviewed hundreds of people who have experienced this extraordinary phenomenon. Rounding out the panel of experts is end-of-life therapist William Peters, author of 2022’s At Heaven’s Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better.

“… interviewing several people who have had a near-death experience …”

Brenneman allows those she is interviewing to share their stories uninterrupted, leading to a very interesting documentary that is imbued with heart and spirit. We learn about the darkness and the light. Peters shares a concept about a “conductor” and describes how they can help navigate the post-life landscape. Dr. Moody is careful to mention that these are personal stories, and they are treated with reverence here.

The production includes footage of lyrical dancers serving as a poetic mirror for the stories on stage. We also hear the story of Anna Atherton, who in 1669 fell into a death-like trance for seven days and became one of the first near-death experiences on record. Afterlife: Beyond The Light is a compelling exploration of the veil between worlds and proves to be a rewarding experience, especially for those familiar with the work of Dr. Moody and Peters, and for anyone who has an interest in the unknown.