Evan Rachel Wood is bringing out a documentary dedicated to her decision to name Marilyn Manson as her abuser, titled Phoenix Rising. Posting about the film on Instagram, the actress described it as “a documentary exploring aspects of my life, career, family, the passage of #ThePhoenixAct, and ultimately the decision to name my abuser publicly,” the actress wrote in an Instagram post.
Directed by documentarian Amy Berg (who helmed Janis Joplin biopic Janis: Little Girl Blue), the first half of the two-part documentary will premiere virtually at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and will air in full later in Spring on HBO.
In 2019, Wood penned a law called the Phoenix Act, a bill that extended the statute of limitations on domestic violence from three years to five, which passed in California that year. In February 2021, Wood posted a statement to social media, accusing her former partner Manson of years-long abuse. “The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson,” the actress wrote, claiming that he “horrifically abused me for years”.
Four other women also came forward, making similar claims of abuse against Manson. Allegations include violence and harassment, sexual and verbal abuse, and Manson forcing his partners to take drugs. All four women say that they still suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, as reported by BBC News.
“It was very important for Evan that this story educates – because domestic violence is something that is rarely talked about, and Evan was very candid about the moments in her life where she felt like, had she had a little different information or education, she might have made different decisions, so I think the film is as educational as it is entertaining,” Amy Berg said in an interview about the documentary for Sundance.
Manson has denied the allegations, but in the aftermath of them, he has been dropped by his label, agent, manager, and longtime publicist. Artists including Phoebe Bridgers and Manson’s former collaborators, such as Trent Reznor, have also denounced the musician.