Streaming
From Pray Away to The Doc Antle Story.
Trigger Warning: This list contains mentions of sexual assault, coercive control, conversion therapy, extreme violence, mental distress, body shaming, and abuse.
Cults. The word alone makes me simultaneously curious and terrified. And the public's morbid fascination with cult leaders, their members, the goings on inside these organisations, and just how people manage to get drawn in, makes for endless discussion. Whether it's documentaries or totally fictional, I'm there. And, luckily for me and all my fellow fascinated friends, the best TV shows and movies about cults on Netflix UK are just a click away.
According to the Guardian, there are three defining traits to a cult. They are:
- "A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power."
- "A process [of indoctrination or education is in use that can be seen as] coercive persuasion or thought reform [commonly called 'brainwashing']."
- "Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie."
Right, so basically a whole lot of seriously scary stuff. And it's so easy to think "meh that would never happen to me!" But that's what everyone thinks at first... which is why these stories are so darn fascinating.
Read on for our picks of the best TV shows and movies about cults on Netflix UK right now.
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7
‘The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness’ – 2021
If you’re obsessed with true crime and love learning about cults, perhaps this is one for you. This film centres around David Richard Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam, who killed eight people during a wave of shooting attacks in the summer of 1976 in New York City.
This four-episode series investigates Berkowitz, as well as the theory that his actions were motivated by his involvement in a Satanic cult. It’s partly based on journalist Maury Terry’s point of view, who interviewed him multiple times during his incarceration and who is convinced by the Satantic cult theory.
8
‘Pray Away’ — 2021
A difficult watch, this documentary opens the lid on religious conversion therapy, especially the promotion of “reformed queers” to falsely convince those struggling with their sexuality of a “cure”. Based on the gay conversion therapy movement that swept (and still sweeps) the US, LGBTQ+ victims and former leaders come together to expose the lies, homophobia, and significant abuses at the heart of this practice.
This documentary is a stark reminder of something that is still gutting the lives of LGBTQ+ people today, even if it is based on past events.
9
‘Midsommar’ — 2019
Now a cult classic, we couldn’t forget this Swedish folk horror. Highly anticipated and met with critical acclaim, Ari Arster’s Midsommar follows college student Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) on a group holiday to Sweden for Midsommar festival celebrations. She’s tagging along with her boyfriend and his friends, and it quickly descends into pagan cultdom.
From suicide cliff drops witnessed by unmoved crowds, group sex and virginity loss rituals, hallucinogenic plants to human sacrific rituals — all with a confused Dani at the centre as May Queen — she quietly rises to the occasion in the end.
It’s not a true story by any means, but it’s based on real traditional Midsommar festival activities, just with added cultishness for impact.
10
‘[Un]Well’ — 2020
A six part deep dive into the lucrative wellness industry - and its darker, predatory side that feeds off desperation - [Un]Well focuses on a different ‘miracle cure’ every episode. Across the season, it covers essential oils, tantric sex, breast milk bulking, fasting, ayawasha tripping, and bee sting therapy. While viewers do hear from advocates of each trend or followers that swear by them, the more gripping viewing lies with the people that were duped, with huge consequences.
11
‘Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator’ — 2019
An exposing documentary on the (alleged) cult-like yoga movement that picked up steam in Los Angeles, founded by Bikram Choudhury, which include accounts of bullying, extreme forms of control, accusations of sexual grooming, and rape and abuse.
Not so long ago, Choudhury was still hailed by thousands as a spiritual leader that impacted positive change. But underneath it all, the documentary implies toxic practices and narcissistic belief were likely the driving forces all along. In the trailer, he’s described as having “a really ugly side” and “flashes of megalomania”. Despite this, the parts that feature people who still sing his praises loudly are the most unsettling.
12
‘Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story’ — 2021
We were first introduced to Doc Antle as part of the original Tiger King series, a show that took us all by storm in the dead of lockdown. There were suggestions of cult-like structures at his South Myrtle Beach safari (and commune, of sorts) that revolves around tigers and his many girlfriends.
But this three part limited series focuses on Antle and his rise to leader of his own alternative community, with former women employees that allege they suffered abuse, control, and body shaming at his hands. Coming full circle in a way, some of those featured claim Antle modelled himself on Swami Satchidananda — another yogi leader accused of abuse and cultdom — after being part of Yogaville himself previously.
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