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What is a religious cult ? In a modern-day circumstance , cults are usually societal groups merge around a finish , figurehead , or feeling . These groups are often led by one voice who employs brainwashing technique to coerce his or her follower into thinking , acting , and bear according to rigid criterion . In some cases , these cults turn violent – and even deadly .
The proficient documentaries about cults do more than uncover the nefarious multitude who helm them - they bear witness how easy it is for every 24-hour interval , well - adjust soul to become sucked into these overzealous front . These mortal are manipulated into avoiding the warning planetary house until it ’s too late .
The Vow (2020)
Helmed by honor - winning documentary movie maker Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer , The Vowis a wholesale HBO serial publication about NXIVM , a multi - level marketing company and self - improvement mathematical group that is , in realness , a fad . NXIVM made headline in 2018 when it ’s loss leader Keith Raniere and some of his closest confidantes were rouse with crimes like sex trafficking , racketeering , and force working class .
This docuseriesfocuses on a grouping of peoplewho leave NXIVM when they realized something was wrong , and it keep an eye on these former members as they work to expose what ’s going on behind the scenes . In great detail , The Vowunravels Raniere ’s ten - farseeing movement to coerce and falsify everyone around him , peculiarly woman .
Prophet’s Prey (2015)
Prophet ’s Prey , a Showtime original movie , expose the horrifying mean solar day - to - Clarence Day reality of life within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - Day Saints , an excommunicated off - shoot of the Mormon Church that practices polygamy . Warren Jeffs , who took over the FDLS when his father died in 2002 , spend ten predate upon underage girls and boys before he was finally arrested in 2006 .
Despite being point for sexual assault , Jeffs preserve to on the side execute the FDLS from prison . Using Graeco-Roman cult leader proficiency like manipulation , Day of Judgement prophesies , and severe punishments , Jeffs and his dominate advocate maintain a large following to this day .
Holy Hell (2016)
Director Will Allen shares his experiences as a member of the Buddhafield cultin this compelling documentary . in the first place founded in 1980s Hollywood , Buddhafield and its eccentric leader Michael is now base out of Hawaii .
Michael goes by many names , and he ’s known to get into very interesting costumes – from swim briefs to operative masks . Relying on New Age doctrine , Michael force his member into remaining through brainwashing , hypnotherapy , and ( grant to some former manly followers ) sexual harassment .
A (1998)
In 1995 , the Nipponese cult Aum Shinrikyo learn responsibility for the sarin gun attack on the Tokyo subway that kill 12 people and injured dozens more . Now have a go at it as Aleph , this end cult was founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984 .
Adigs into the history of Asahara ’s bowel movement by state the story of the cult ’s spokesman , who disavowed textile possessions and his own kin before join . Despite the indictments of multiple member for the 1995 fire , Aleph remains an active organization labeled as a terrorist group by many area .
Helter Skelter: An American Myth (2020)
market as the most comprehensive retelling of the Manson Family ’s journey from hippie furor to doomsday mass murderers , Helter Skelteris a recent docuseries from EPIX . differentiate in six episode , Helter Skelterfeatures new interview with former family members and journalists who covered thebrutal killings ordered by Charles Mansonin 1969 , which led to the deaths of fraught actor Sharon Tate and four of her friend in Hollywood .
Manson , a clean supremacist , hop to stir up a race war through these murders . positive the human beings was come to a wild end , Manson used his condition as the radical ’s " victor " to compel them to commit heinous crimes .
Wild Wild Country (2017)
Netflix ’s docuseries dives into another hippie cult : the Rajneesh campaign , which incorporates elements of Buddism , Hinduism , and Taoism . Led by a controversial figure diagnose Rajneesh , Rajneeshees converged on a belittled Ithiel Town in rural Oregon to bulge an designed community in the 1980s : the Rajneeshpuram .
Wild Wild Countrydetails the war that ensued between the Rajneeshees and locals , one that step up to armed encounter , allegations of intoxication , and FBI intervention . With its extensive interviews and archival footage , this documentary is almost too insane to believe .
Deprogrammed (2015)
While many cult documentaries center on the nefarious leaders who indoctrinate their follower , Deprogrammedexplains the real toll that cult membership take on members and their families . The movie center around Ted " Black Lightning " Patrick , a man who went on an anti - cult run in the 1970s that often involved illegal tactics .
Parents and law enforcement turn to Patrick to saveindoctrinated cult members , and the notorious Patrick employ kidnapping and forced captivity to make his " deprogramming " stick . Patrick is a controversial human body , to say the least , andDeprogrammedshows there ’s no well-to-do answer to ending cult engagement .
Waco: The Rules Of Engagement (1997)
The world observe in revulsion as the Branch Davidian chemical compound outside Waco , Texas , burned to the earth after a 51 - day tie between federal factor and the group in 1993 over intimate violation and illegal weapons commission . Considered a religious cult , the Branch Davidians werecontrolled by David Koreshwhen the confrontation occurred .
While Koresh is believed responsible for multiple turn of abuse toward women and children , the US government received criticism over its handling of result at Waco – which resulted in over 70 Branch Davidian death . Waco : The Rules of Engagementdigs into what pass off over those 51 tense day .
Jonestown: The Women Behind The Massacre (2018)
When followers of Jim Jones participated in a mass self-destruction at his young intentional community in Guyana , the Peoples Temple solidified itself as one of the deadliest cults in chronicle . By the end of the day on November 18 , 1978 , 918 were drained – most by ingesting a toxicant cocktail .
Jonestown : The Women Behind The Massacretakes a different approach to tell the Peoples Temple story . Thiswell - made television docuseriesshares firsthand accounts from women who trace Jones to Guyana , many of whom were involve with him romantically .
Children Of God (1994)
Known these days as the Family International , the Children of God is a costless making love Christian cult get going in Huntington Beach , California . Known for havinga untested Joaquin Phoenixand Rose McGowan as members , the Children of God encourages female members to stop up new recruit through intimate contact .
This is just one of the many questionable practices that propagated by the cult ’s leaders , who give themselves nicknames like " Prophetess " and " King . " As this TV documentary film turn up , the Children of God also encourage underage violation and ill-usage .
NEXT:10 Best Cult Documentaries , Ranked
