5 Best Cult Documentaries to Watch Now
Must have: Fascinating characters, a stranger-than-fiction plot line, and great editing
Friends! Wow, what a week. Today’s newsletter comes to you several days late because, well, life is like that sometimes. In the coming weeks, this newsletter may take on a slightly different cadence as we approach the holidays and I prepare for Baby #2, but more on that later. For today, I needed to talk to you about one of my all-time favorite film & television genres: Cult documentaries.
I love cult documentaries. I love documentaries, full stop. But I find subculture stories downright thrilling. We all know that good characters are three-dimensional. Even—especially—the anti-heroes. Good storytelling, fiction or nonfiction, is based in certain truths about the human condition. But a good documentary or docuseries is proof that real life is rife with drama, deceit, and despair.
What I really glom onto about cult documentaries, in particular, is that there can be little discrimination of who actually follows a cult. (Though if you do a quick scan, it does seem like white people are the most culpable.) I think all it takes for someone to fall into a cult is finding them at the right intersection of vulnerability and desperation. It’s a perfect storm of optimism and naïveté, and I don’t think anyone is entirely immune to it, though some do certainly seem more prone to it.
One reason to love cult documentaries is the shock and awe factor. It’s easy to judge people who join cults, but it’s much more interesting to try and understand things from their point of view. As a writer, it’s my job to see the other side of the story; to understand peoples’ motivations, however extreme, delusional, or malicious they may be. There is most often a religious component to cults, which proves that, at the end of the day, we’re all looking for something or someone to believe in. A good documentary will not simply objectify its subjects, but give them a platform on which to speak authentically.
I’m no filmmaker, but as a storyteller, I believe a good documentary needs three components: Fascinating characters, a stranger-than-fiction plot line, and great editing. While it might not be considered a cult documentary, The Tiger King did an excellent job of fulfilling this criteria. At face value, we knew this was going to be a wild ride. The show had everything: a guy named “Joe Exotic,” gaudy theatrics, childhood trauma, animal abuse, relational tensions out the wazoo, and a gay-redneck-cowboy romance (plus a three-groom wedding!). As each episode unraveled, the plot thickened. We, as viewers, couldn’t believe that this shit could get any weirder. AND THEN IT DID. The filmmakers and the editors conducted this story like a symphony. Five stars. With that in mind, here are similar executions in my favorite genre.
LOVE HAS WON: THE CULT OF MOTHER GOD
“Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God chronicles the life and death of Amy Carlson, also known as Mother God, a self-proclaimed spiritual savior who built a cult through her online manifestos and live-streaming sessions. As Amy's health declined, her followers believed her death would lead to her evacuation by UFO and salvation for humanity. Told through the eyes of Amy’s devotees and constructed from the cult’s archival footage, the three-part docuseries captures the perils of internet proselytizing and a conspiracy-driven faith.”
Never in my life have I seen something so unhinged, and I thank the filmmakers and editors for starting the story where they did: Mother God’s Mission House in Colorado, where we immediately witness a confrontation between the police and some of Mother God’s followers. I will tell you no more. Go, watch, be amazed.
“This documentary series from Oscar®-nominated, Emmy®-winning directors Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer (‘The Square,’ ‘Control Room,’ ‘Startup.com’) follows members who joined the self-improvement group NXIVM—its leader, convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, among other crimes—to reveal the emotional toll of unfolding events on these individuals.”
Self-proclaimed genius and entrepreneur, Keith Raniere, starts a self-improvement group that, at face value, seems like it has all the best intentions to make the world a better place. What I love most about this documentary series is that the filmmakers do a great job normalizing ESP NXIVM’s mission. And then things start to get dicey (and creepy).
“This documentary charts the rise and fall of hot yoga founder Bikram Choudhury as his global empire is born and disturbing revelations come to light.”
All cults look different and malicious behavior takes place behind all doors—even hot yoga studios. I’m partial to this documentary because my personal entry point to hot yoga came through Bikram classes in New York City and Los Angeles. This documentary does an excellent job narrating how good people with pure intentions can be blinded by their commitment to spiritual, physical, and emotional perfection.
“A couple built a spiritual business to help people find true love. Now, former followers are sharing their disturbing practices in this docuseries.”
This was one of the most bizarre cult docuseries I’ve seen not because it’s that unhinged, but because you almost can’t believe that anyone would put this much faith in a guy like Jeff Ayan, who actually insinuates at one point that he is the Jesus. When we are introduced to him in Episode One, my first thought was, “This fucking guy.” You cannot believe the things he says, and which such sincerity. Jeff and Shaleia’s antics are borderline comical, their treatment of their followers is point-blank abusive, and to top it off, it all takes place on Zoom—but what makes this story great is that people actually, genuinely believe in their mission. This is what lies at the heart of a fascinating cult story. No matter how farfetched or absurd a cult’s mission is, there are always people willing to fuck around and find out, regardless of how detrimental it may be to their emotional or physical wellbeing.
THE WAY DOWN: GOD, GREED, AND THE CULT OF GWEN SHAMBLIN
“After rising to fame with her Weigh Down Workshop, a Christian-based diet program that preached slenderness as next to godliness, Gwen Shamblin Lara founded the Tennessee-based church. Despite a carefully curated image, Lara and the church soon fielded accusations of emotional, psychological, and physical abuse, and exploitation for their alleged cult-like practices. Encompassing years of investigation and extensive interviews with former members and others personally impacted, Directed by Emmy®-Award winning biographical filmmaker Marina Zenovich, THE WAY DOWN explores the legacy of Remnant’s infamous leader – whose life came to a shocking end after a plane crash in May 2021.”
The hair. The extravagance. The hair. Once again, what makes this documentary so interesting is its unbelievability. (And the hair.) We watch how Gwen Shamblin molded herself into a charming and charismatic woman in the church to the leader of weight-loss empire, all under the premise of God’s word.
A few I’d be remiss not to mention a couple others like Heaven’s Gate or Wild, Wild Country. Also Keep Sweet, Pray, and Obey, because I love any proof that Fundamentalist pastors are a greater threat to children than Drag Queens are, but it’s worth nothing that this last one, as well as docs about Children of God are difficult to watch because of the blatant child abuse, and naturally, it is hard to stomach when children are unwillingly caught in the crossfire of megalomaniacs. Proceed with caution.
Happy holidays and don’t forget to stay skeptical!
Good read! Thank you!
I too, love documentaries - esp cult and true crime! The only one on your list I’ve watched is The Vow so I’ve got some watching to do!!