Cult shows and documentaries expose true crimes, some weirdly fascinating secrets which may interest many viewers. Now the streaming services have them all. Learning the real crime scenes and behind-the-scenes stories of cult leaders is truly fascinating for some people.
You never know how normal people get involved in this group unwillingly and manipulated to be a part of it. And some shows perfectly documented all the behind-the-scenes stories of the cult group, which never brings a dull moment. And Netflix has all these documentary series for our entertainment.
Cult shows on Netflix and documentaries may bring you close to the strange realities of some weird societies, and some of them may be triggering. However, viewers must think twice before watching these shows.
10 of the spine-chilling cult shows available on Netflix
10. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
- Director: Rachel Dretzin, Grace McNally
A recent documentary on Netflix, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, is number one on the list. It tells the true crime story of Warren Jeffs, the infamous leader of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, an offshoot of Mormonism.
About the show
The documentary miniseries interviews the survivors about their lives in the FLDS church. Show director Rachel Dretzin visited Short Creek, Utah, and questioned the survivors, providing testimonies of Jeff’s power dynamics. This person is currently in jail, serving his life sentence for some heinous crimes, using sexism and rape to control. However, he has some devoted followers who helped and aided his crimes.
9. Wild Wild Country
- Director: Maclain Way, Chapman Way
Wild Wild Country tells the true crimes of controversial cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) and his assistant Ma Anand Sheela. They built their Utopian Community, Rajneeshpuram, in the Oregon Desert, which clashed with the local ranches. The six-part documentary series turns even darker as it explores the controversial parts of their past.
About the show
The series begins in India, where he is giving speeches about spirituality and sexuality to his massive followers. Then, finding political resistance, they moved to Oregon on an 80,000 acres ranch. It documents the conflicts of the massive first bioterror attack on the United States and a close look into their involvement in local politics. It is probably the most famous cult show on Netflix with the best storytelling, which portrays the forgotten part of American history.
8. The Family
- Director: Jesse Moss
It is a documentary miniseries that examines a cult group of conservative Christians known as The Family or The Fellowship and their influence on the political history of Washington, DC. The docuseries took inspiration from the book by Jeff Sharlet, the executive producer.
About the show
Abraham Vereide founded this group in 1935 as a Bible study group. Still, Sharlet argues that the group came into power when Doug Coe succeeded the group and started his vicious mission. This group thinks God chose them to have the ability, and they entered the politics of the United States to have a global conquest. The documentary also asserts that Donald Trump was part of their plan too.
7. One of Us
- Directors: Rachel Grady, Heidi Ewing
One of Us is another cult show on Netflix that follows three Hasidic Jews people who decided to leave the extreme Orthodox Community in New York. Being ostracized, they experience anxiety and danger. The documentary film also revealed what they participated in the community, which is more like sexual and domestic violence.
About the show
One of Us explores the manipulation and abuses of the people of this community while assessing their orthodoxy and religious faith. Coming from the directors of the Oscar-nominated documentary Jesus Camp, this docu-film offers a close look at the private community of one of the biggest multicultural cities and the brave people who tried to defy the crimes despite the threat.
6. Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
- Director: Eva Orner
The documentary truly reveals the topics of racism, greedy business, and sexual abuse under the name of physical improvements. It is saddening to see Choudhury is still freely roaming as he escaped prosecution; to this day, he continues to do his rigorous business.
About the show
Bikram: Yoga, Guru, Predator is a documentary film about the hot yoga founder Bikram Choudhury and his rise and fall. He and his team ran boot camps and certificate courses, but behind this, there were some nasty workings of manipulation and harassment. Filmmakers Eva Orner examines all the details of his work, which clues to his dirty works of sexual harassment of young women. She collected a lot of footage and interviewed his one-time close followers.
‘Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator’ is not a great film, but it is a document of justice: https://t.co/ZA7ltDUhDi pic.twitter.com/B2o2QIbLMF
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) November 21, 2019
5. The Keepers
- Director: Ryan White
Director Ryan White tied up all the details in this docuseries through interviews and conversations to reveal the truth. It doesn’t end with a definite solution. However, it brings light to sexual abuse and assault in a church setting. It made the biggest impact on the viewers to seek the truth.
About the show
The documentary series covers the unsolved murder mystery of Cathy Cesnik. A Catholic nun and a teacher at Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore, Cathy Cesnik, went missing in 1969, and two months later, her body was found. The news said the beloved teacher was murdered for raising her voice against sexual abuse. To date, her murderer is still unknown, and the case remains unsolved. However, decades later, the case returned to the spotlight when one of her students brought allegations against the high school authority. She suspected a priest of the high school who sexually abused students.
4. Aquarius
- Show Creator: John McNamara
- Cast: David Duchovny, Grey Damon, Gethin Anthony, Emma Dumont, Claire Holt
Aquarius is an American TV series brought by NBC that deals with the crimes of cult leader Charles Manson. Set in the 1960s, Charles Manson slowly builds his “The Family” and recruits vulnerable new members of young women to join his cause. Although the story revolves around real-life events, there are fictional events and characters.
About the show
The two seasons TV series starts with LAPD detective Sam Hodiak with his young colleague, narcotics officer Brian Shafe, investigating a case of a missing teenage girl. Kodiak came across many crimes of Manson and his increasing influence on the Manson family. The second season deals with his infamous case of Tate murder and his race war called “Helter skelter”. Unfortunately, NBC canceled the show after two seasons.
3. Holy Hell
- Director: William Francesco Allen
Holy Hell is a documentary film by filmmaker Will Allen who shared his experience in the cult group called Buddhafield. As an ex-member and the group’s videographer, Allen used much of the inside footage in this documentary and stayed in the group for 22 years.
About the show
The cult leader, Michel, was once a failed actor who eventually created a community of spiritual and meditation groups, Buddhafield. There is some allegation that Michael has abused his followers. Allen documented his teachings and revealed the intimate secrets of the group. The new footage came from cinematographer Polly Morgan, who took the shot from hiding in the bushes with small, lightweight cameras.
Can confirm, Blue Oyster Cult can still shred with the best of them. Holy hell, what a damned show. pic.twitter.com/b7qh8pVMUe
— Ashton Macaulay (He/Him) (@RealMacAshton) July 24, 2022
2. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.
- Director: Chris Smith
It is a four-part cult show on Netflix that tells the story of a famous vegan restaurant owner in New York, Sarma Melngailis, who falls victim to her con man husband. This docuseries truly proves how anyone can fall victim to a cult culture in the bad times and circumstances that come on the way.
About the show
Melngailis met and married a con man named Anthony Stangis, who introduced himself to her as Shane Fox. He promised her everything, from paying her debt to an immortal life for her dog. He made her launder money from her restaurant. Employers complained about not getting laid, and they walked out. The pair escaped from the authorities but finally got caught. Police charged them for transferring a huge amount of money into their account.
1. Pray Away
- Director: Kristine Stolakis
It is a documentary film that opens the fraud of religious conversion therapy. Five evangelicals ran to form Exodus International, which convinced people to believe that they could cure gay people to become straight through conversion therapy. LGBTQ+ victims and former leaders came together to reveal the truth of homophobia, abuses, and traumatic events at the therapy camp. While we condemn conversion therapy today, the victims are still healing from the traumatic events of the past decades.
I think it's going to very interesting to check back in on 'gender critical' detransitioners in 10 years time. I think we're going to have a 'Pray Away'* style documentary about this.
*Netflix show about gay people who used to promote the ex-gay movementhttps://t.co/frvT93gdUm
— Aidan Comerford (@AidanCTweets) November 3, 2022
