The Best Depictions Of Cults In Film And Television
By Lindsey Romain/Jan. 24, 2018 3:00 pm EST
Tonight, the Paramount Network premieres the first installment in a six-part miniseries about real-life cult leader David Koresh and the tragic siege of his compound in Waco, Texas. Waco stars Taylor Kitsch as Koresh and Michael Shannon as FBI agent Gary Noesner, and will dig into the complexities of Koresh’s spiritual sect, the Branch Davidians, including their strange living conditions, and their leader’s penchant for marrying and sleeping with preteen girls. It’s the second fictional portrayal of Koresh in the last few months: Evan Peters’ also briefly tackled the part in an episode of American Horror Story: Cult late last year.
Koresh is having his day in the sun, but public fascination with cults and cult leaders is nothing new. There’s something inherently compelling and cinematic about the mass mania that permits these institutions. It’s a goldmine of character development and analytics, of drama and personal spectacle; a way of lifting the hood on human psychology and playing with the gears. As cults rage on as potent storytelling devices, we’ve compiled a list of the best-ever depictions of cults and cult mentality in narrative film, documentaries, and television.
The Wicker Man
The original – not the 2006 Nicolas Cage remake – is the godfather of all cult movies. Edward Woodward is excellent as Howie, a police sergeant who travels to a remote island searching for a missing girl. The island is inhabited by a kooky New Agey-type cult – led by Christopher Lee – that worships Celtic gods and puts toads in their mouths to treat cold sores. They are uncooperative with Woodward, claiming the young girl never existed, and eventually reveal their plot to trap and sacrifice Howie to improve their harvest. The Wicker Man is a weird and creepy product of its time, and had a massive impact on the horror genre.
Where to watch it: Stream it on Shudder
Going Clear
Alex Gibney’s documentary – an adaptation of Lawrence Wright’s bestselling book – is a compelling and upsetting deep-dive into Scientology, that Hollywood “religion” that, according to ex-members, is far more dangerous than Tom Cruise’s flashy smile would have you believe. Gibney interviews a slew of former high-ranking Scientologists, who unveil the church’s brainwashing recruitment tactics, abusive faculties, and family-destroying rubrics. If Going Clear leaves you hungry for more, Leah Remini’s A&E reality series, Scientology and the Aftermath, is a solid follow-up.
Where to watch it: Stream it on HBONow
Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People’s Temple
This documentary digs deep into Jim Jones and the Jonestown massacre, where more than 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide. It’s tough subject matter, and the film doesn’t flinch away from some of the brutal elements, including the infamous “death tape” where Jim Jones can be heard giving instructions to his terrified constituents moments before their deaths. The film interviews former members of Jones’ cult, and survivors of the massacre. It’s an intimate look at a man, a following, and event that feel otherworldly in their extremity.
Where to watch it: Stream it on YouTube
The Best Depictions Of Cults In Film And Television
By Lindsey Romain/Jan. 24, 2018 3:00 pm EST
Tonight, the Paramount Network premieres the first installment in a six-part miniseries about real-life cult leader David Koresh and the tragic siege of his compound in Waco, Texas. Waco stars Taylor Kitsch as Koresh and Michael Shannon as FBI agent Gary Noesner, and will dig into the complexities of Koresh’s spiritual sect, the Branch Davidians, including their strange living conditions, and their leader’s penchant for marrying and sleeping with preteen girls. It’s the second fictional portrayal of Koresh in the last few months: Evan Peters’ also briefly tackled the part in an episode of American Horror Story: Cult late last year.
Koresh is having his day in the sun, but public fascination with cults and cult leaders is nothing new. There’s something inherently compelling and cinematic about the mass mania that permits these institutions. It’s a goldmine of character development and analytics, of drama and personal spectacle; a way of lifting the hood on human psychology and playing with the gears. As cults rage on as potent storytelling devices, we’ve compiled a list of the best-ever depictions of cults and cult mentality in narrative film, documentaries, and television.
Koresh is having his day in the sun, but public fascination with cults and cult leaders is nothing new. There’s something inherently compelling and cinematic about the mass mania that permits these institutions. It’s a goldmine of character development and analytics, of drama and personal spectacle; a way of lifting the hood on human psychology and playing with the gears.
As cults rage on as potent storytelling devices, we’ve compiled a list of the best-ever depictions of cults and cult mentality in narrative film, documentaries, and television.
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Rosemary’s Baby
American Horror Story: Cult
The Wicker Man
The original – not the 2006 Nicolas Cage remake – is the godfather of all cult movies. Edward Woodward is excellent as Howie, a police sergeant who travels to a remote island searching for a missing girl. The island is inhabited by a kooky New Agey-type cult – led by Christopher Lee – that worships Celtic gods and puts toads in their mouths to treat cold sores. They are uncooperative with Woodward, claiming the young girl never existed, and eventually reveal their plot to trap and sacrifice Howie to improve their harvest. The Wicker Man is a weird and creepy product of its time, and had a massive impact on the horror genre.
Where to watch it: Stream it on Shudder
Where to watch it: Stream it on Shudder
Going Clear
Alex Gibney’s documentary – an adaptation of Lawrence Wright’s bestselling book – is a compelling and upsetting deep-dive into Scientology, that Hollywood “religion” that, according to ex-members, is far more dangerous than Tom Cruise’s flashy smile would have you believe. Gibney interviews a slew of former high-ranking Scientologists, who unveil the church’s brainwashing recruitment tactics, abusive faculties, and family-destroying rubrics. If Going Clear leaves you hungry for more, Leah Remini’s A&E reality series, Scientology and the Aftermath, is a solid follow-up.
Where to watch it: Stream it on HBONow
Where to watch it: Stream it on HBONow
Sound of My Voice
Holy Smoke
Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People’s Temple
This documentary digs deep into Jim Jones and the Jonestown massacre, where more than 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide. It’s tough subject matter, and the film doesn’t flinch away from some of the brutal elements, including the infamous “death tape” where Jim Jones can be heard giving instructions to his terrified constituents moments before their deaths. The film interviews former members of Jones’ cult, and survivors of the massacre. It’s an intimate look at a man, a following, and event that feel otherworldly in their extremity.
Where to watch it: Stream it on YouTube
Where to watch it: Stream it on YouTube
