15 Fascinatingly Freaky Cult Documentaries That’ll Glue Your Eyes to the Screen
I just can’t seem to look away…. 👀
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Sure, horror movies are scary. But have you ever watched a cult documentary? Sometimes, ghosts, zombies, and possessed dolls aren’t nearly as bone-chilling as humans. It’s unsettling (to say the least) to watch how people successfully psychologically manipulate others—and sometimes themselves—into believing a cause or concept that seems completely illogical. Plus, the extreme lengths blind followers are willing to go to for their leader and/or community is unnerving. It’s subtle and disturbing and totally creeps up on you. But that’s also what makes those stories so fascinating—and sort of hard to look away.
If one of your guilty pleasures happens to be learning about the inner workings of a cult, you’re not alone, and we’re here with some extra research material. Here’s a list of the best documentaries and docuseries about cults that you should promptly add to your watchlist.
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence
This gripping docuseries explores the cult of Larry Ray—the father of a Sarah Lawrence College student who moved onto campus with his daughter in 2010, and started a cult composed of her friends and fellow students. He controlled the group for about a decade through manual labor, mental manipulation, and sexual abuse.
Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God
This documentary series covers Amy Carson, a self-proclaimed “spiritual savior” who led the religious group Love Has Won. Amy gained a loyal following through online live streams and manifestos, and members of Love Has Won believe that she’s the mother of the human race. This series follows the group in the weeks following her death.
Sins of Our Mother
Lori Vallow was a mom of three who followed the cultish work of alleged “Doomsday Prophet” named Chad Daybell, and eventually married him. This docuseries unpacks the tragic circumstances that led to Lori murdering two of her children, primarily from the perspective of Lori’s surviving son.
The Deep End
Teal Swan, a spiritual influencer (who has rejected assertions that her work is like that of a cult-leader) has been the subject of quite a bit of controversy concerning the mental health management methods that she promotes on her online platforms. The series captures the dynamic and strict rules within Teal’s inner circle, which a film crew followed for three years.
Escaping Twin Flames
This docuseries dives into the Twin Flames Universe, a self-help group that has been described as cult-like. The group assigns their members romantic soulmates, AKA “twin flames,” whom the group’s leaders, a couple named Jeff and Shaleia Divine, encouraged their followers to be with by any means necessary.
Wild Wild Country
A self-proclaimed guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh builds a utopia for his followers in the Oregon desert, which causes a huge conflict with locals. The wild ride of events leads to illegal wiretapping and the very first known bioterrorist attack in the history of the United States.
The Vow
This docuseries follows the experiences of people in the “self-improvement group” NXIVM and its leader, Keith Raniere, who has been convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and other crimes. It also talks about the involvement that Smallville actor Allison Mack played in recruiting members.
Prophet’s Prey
This is kind of like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt IRL. The film takes a look into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church and its leader, Warren Jeffs. It talks about how one man built a multimillion-dollar church, married more than 60 women, and commanded others’ lives through brainwashing, mental manipulation, and abuse.
Waco: The Rules of Engagement
This looks back on the 1993 tragedy that happened in Waco, Texas. A government raid for suspicion of illegal weapon possession leads to a long 51-day standoff between the FBI and members of the Branch Davidian religious cult. Things get out of hand, and David Koresh and 76 of his followers (plus 4 federal agents) die.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
The Church of Scientology may not be considered a cult…but this doc argues otherwise. Former members come forward and talk about what really goes on within the walls of the big blue building. They go into detail about strange practices and questionable beliefs that the controversial church and its devoted followers still hold to this day.
Holy Hell
Will Allen has been making films for basically his whole life, and he documented a lot of his time as part of the mysterious Los Angeles–based spiritual group Buddhafield. He and other former community members share their stories about being drawn in by idealism and their charismatic leader until the world as they knew it unraveled.
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults digs deep into the UFO cult, which started in 1975 with the disappearance of 20 people from a small town in Oregon and ended in a horrific mass suicide. The four-part documentary includes some never-before-seen footage and accounts from former believers and their loved ones.
Manson: The Women
Fifty years since the infamous Manson Family murders, four women give exclusive interviews as they look back on their blind following of Charles Manson and the crimes they committed. Experts also weigh in on the gruesome past events.
Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst
The film follows the Symbionese Liberation Army, which was a notorious domestic terrorist group that, while dedicated to some noble causes, took an extremist violent approach. They incited to overthrow the U.S. government, manipulated mainstream journalists, and infamously kidnapped teenage newspaper heiress Patty Hearst.
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The Source Family
Father Yod founded a “spiritual commune” called the Source Family in the late 1960s. Located in the Hollywood Hills, they lived communally, took drugs like marijuana and LSD, ate vegetarian, and formed a rock band—nothing that seemed deeply disturbing. But this documentary puts a magnifying glass on the darker side of this cult.
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