Charlie Says

The film opens with Lulu slowly showering blood from her face after the LaBianca murders. The brutal image sets a chilling tone and hints at the violence to come. It frames Lulu's early detachment and the cult's manipulative control.

Three years after the Tate and LaBianca killings, Lulu, Katie, and Sadie are in the California Institution for Women, in the Special Security Unit. The prison setting juxtaposes their gentleness with the stigma of their crimes. Karlene Faith is assigned to teach them college classes, initiating a deprogramming process.

Karlene Faith begins meeting the women and attempting to change their belief system. She questions their devotion to Charlie and starts to present alternative viewpoints. The sessions mark the start of an extended deprogramming effort.

The story flashes back to Lulu's introduction to the Family and Charlie at Spahn Ranch. Catherine Gypsy Share brings Lulu to the ranch, and Katie becomes her mentor. Charlie's teachings are laid out as the group embraces his philosophy.

Katie explains Charlie and the Family's beliefs, and the group follows his preaching. They are encouraged to let go of ego, live in the now, and embrace free sexuality. The scene establishes the dynamics that will mold Lulu and her friends.

The Family's daily regime includes panhandling for food and occasional orgies. Charlie imposes strict rules, such as women not holding money and not serving themselves until the men are served. He rationalizes these practices as rejecting materialism and forcing a death of self.

Lulu is chastised for questioning inconsistencies in Charlie's mandates. He isolates and pressures her, including taking her to a cliff and telling her to jump if she wants to leave. The scene underscores the coercive control he wields.

Charlie interprets Revelation as referring to him and predicts a coming revolution. He speaks of a race war and a future by which some will survive in a bottomless pit until the surface is reached, with winged elves emerging. Lulu, Katie, and Sadie share the unsettling visions as they cling to Charlie's authority.

Dennis Wilson tells Charlie that the Beach Boys will record one of his songs, fueling Charlie's fantasy of fame. He believes the attention could make him a rock star and validate the Family's mission.

Terry Melcher witnesses a performance by Charlie and is not impressed. The rejection fuels his anger, and later that evening he beats Sadie.

The focus shifts from music to violence as Charlie plans to ignite a race war, naming it Helter Skelter. He orders killings to pin on African Americans, signaling a brutal turn in the group's actions. The plan marks a turning point toward heinous violence.

After the Tate murders, Charlie orders Sadie, Tex, and Lulu to kill residents at Terry Melcher's old house, now home to Sharon Tate. Katie and Linda Kasabian accompany them on the mission. The group prepares for an act that will escalate their notoriety.

Following the Tate murders, Charlie commands Katie, Tex, and Lulu to commit the LaBianca murders. Tex believes they can become invisible at will, which fuels their confidence and fear. The mission underscores the group's descent into irrevocable violence.

Karlene continues deprogramming, trying to restore the girls to themselves from before they met Charlie. She realizes that even if they regain independent thought, the murders were already done and can no longer be undone. The acts will torment Lulu, Katie, and Sadie for the rest of their lives.

In the final scenes, Lulu confronts the grim truth that the murders did not spark a revolution. She recognizes that the violence achieved nothing and left them trapped by guilt and memory. The film closes on the realization that their story is one of irrevocable consequences rather than heroic upheaval.