10 Cult Documentaries That Expose the Dark Side of Devotion

Most of us think we’d never fall for a cult, but here are 10 documentaries that expose just how easily even the smartest people can get tangled up in something dangerous when they’re feeling vulnerable. Whether it’s celebrities or college students, these folks were just trying to find some connection or meaning. Instead, they found manipulative leaders who twisted their good intentions into something harmful. These documentaries remind us just how easy it is for the line between seeking something better and losing yourself completely to blur.

The Vow (2020)

This HBO series dives into the completely wild story of how a so-called “self-help group” called NVIXM ended up turning into an actual sex cult right under everyone’s noses. The most jaw-dropping part is seeing footage of Hollywood stars and executives buying into Keith Raniere’s pseudoscientific nonsense about “personal growth.” The documentary team got amazing access, including members’ video diaries as they started to realize how deep they were in. It’s especially heartbreaking watching Mark Vicente and Sarah Edmondson wake up to the fact that they not only fell for it but also led others into it for years.

The series takes its time showing how smart people got sucked in through seemingly innocent “executive success programs” before things went completely off the rails with the branding-women-like-cattle nightmare. The real hook is seeing how manipulation works from the inside out. If you think you’d never fall for something like this, you might want to think again after watching.

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult (2024)

Ever get sucked into those oddly hypnotic TikTok dance videos? Well, this documentary digs into how Miranda Derrick’s viral dance moves were actually a giant red flag. Through interviews with her desperate family and former dancers, we learn how the 7M Films management company turned into a cult that isolated dancers from their families and controlled every aspect of their lives. Seeing the difference between Miranda’s social media presence before and after joining 7M is seriously eerie.

What’s so fascinating here is watching how Robert Shinn and his crew used social media fame and dance to lure performers in, making it all seem totally legit. The doc does an incredible job of showing how dance training slowly morphed into controlling behavior, all hidden behind a super-polished social media front. Every time concerns were raised, they’d just throw out another viral video to distract everyone.

Escaping Twin Flames (2023)

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at those “find your soulmate” ads online, this documentary will definitely vindicate you. Jeff and Shaleia Divine (yeah, not their real names) built a million-dollar empire by convincing people they could help them find their “twin flame “— their ultimate spiritual soulmate. The series shows, in shocking detail, how this seemingly harmless New Age concept was twisted to control people’s romantic lives.

Former members explain how they were convinced to stalk or harass people labeled as their “twin flame,” even if those people clearly weren’t interested. It’s disturbing to see how they specifically targeted LGBTQ+ folks and people with trauma, promising them their perfect relationship if they just stuck to the “divine” guidance (and kept shelling out cash). You’ll never look at those spiritual dating coaches on Instagram the same way again.

Love Has Won (2023)

Just when you think cult documentaries can’t get any crazier, there’s Amy Carlson, a former McDonald’s manager who convinced her followers she was literally God in a human body. This doc traces her bizarre journey to becoming “Mother God” and building her cult through YouTube and social media. Amy’s daily “spiritual updates” are kind of funny until you realize how tragic the consequences were.

What makes this doc especially powerful is the stark difference between the group’s sparkly, positive social media presence and the disturbing reality behind the scenes. Former members sharing the moment they realized ‘Mother God’ was just a troubled person is both heartbreaking and revealing. When Amy’s story wraps up with her death and the bizarre mummification attempts, it feels surreal to think this happened in the TikTok era.

Daughters of the Cult (2024)

This documentary takes a hard look at the generational trauma caused by the Kingston Clan, a secretive Mormon offshoot that’s still active in Salt Lake City. Through candid interviews with women who escaped, it becomes clear how this so-called ‘religious group’ used faith as a tool for systematic abuse and forced marriages. The filmmakers capture how the cult maintains control with a mix of business success and religious intimidation. Seeing current Kingston businesses operating in Utah will leave you shocked — this isn’t some remote compound; it’s happening right in suburban America.

Listening to these women describe growing up believing their lives were normal, while they were actually being groomed for marriage to much older relatives, is deeply haunting. What makes this documentary powerful is how it lets the survivors speak for themselves, showing both their trauma and incredible resilience.

Sins of Our Mother (2022)

Buckle up for the absolutely wild story of Lori Vallow, a mom who transformed into someone who was convinced her kids were zombies, all because of twisted doomsday beliefs. The documentary takes us through Lori’s shocking transformation, pieced together through interviews with family and news footage.It’s pretty eerie watching Lori’s old home videos, where everything looks picture-perfect, and knowing what was actually going on beneath the surface. Chad Daybell, this doomsday author who said he could see people’s ‘light or dark spirits,’ ended up leading Lori down a really dark path.

The doc doesn’t shy away from showing how these extreme beliefs led to real-life murders, including her own children. By the end, it’s impossible not to wonder how faith got twisted so far that it led to such devastating actions.

Kumare (2011)

This one’s a bit different — more of an experiment than an exposé, and it ends up being oddly touching. Filmmaker Vikram Gandhi poses as a fake guru to show how easy it is to create a spiritual following, but in the process, he ends up building a real one. It’s fascinating to watch Gandhi become increasingly uncomfortable as people start trusting his fake persona. Even though he’s making it up as he goes, you can see genuine moments of connection with his followers.

There’s a tension throughout the film as Gandhi realizes he might actually be helping people — even if the entire thing is based on lies. When he finally reveals the truth, it’s both awkward and strangely uplifting, showing just how powerful belief can be.

The Secrets of Hillsong (2023)

If you thought regular church drama was wild, Hillsong takes it to a whole other level. This doc explores how Carl Lentz, the hip pastor famous for hanging out with Justin Bieber, ended up at the center of a massive church scandal. Former insiders reveal how Hillsong’s obsession with celebrity culture and its Instagram-friendly image hid some very dark realities.

It’s fascinating to see how the church used traditional control tactics wrapped up in a millennial-friendly package. The interviews with former members who worked closely with Lentz make it clear that, despite its modern branding, it was all too cultish. And when the scandals about affairs and financial misconduct finally break, you’re left wondering how they kept up the shiny facade for so long.

Sex, Lies and the College Cult (2022)

This chilling documentary tells how Larry Ray manipulated a group of Sarah Lawrence College students into what essentially became a sex cult — all starting with him crashing on his daughter’s dorm couch. The filmmakers lay out how Ray used a mix of pseudo-intellectualism and psychological abuse to gain control over these students.

Interviews with survivors are heartbreaking, especially when they describe being convinced they owed him “favors” to repay imagined debts. What’s particularly shocking is how Ray twisted the students’ elite education against them, using long-winded “philosophical discussions” to pull them deeper into his control. It’s gut-wrenching to hear families describe losing their kids to this manipulative conman.

Heaven’s Gate (2020)

This deep dive into the infamous UFO cult that ended in mass suicide is more haunting than you might expect. Through interviews with former members and incredible archival footage, we get a look at how Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles built a following of people who genuinely believed they were aliens trapped in human bodies. The way Heaven’s Gate mixed Christian apocalypse with sci-fi made it resonate with people feeling lost during the 70s and 80s. The recruitment videos are eerie, but you can understand how people got sucked in.

Hearing from families and survivors is powerful, especially when they describe how ordinary and educated many of the members were before joining. By the end, when the mass suicide happens, you’re left with a deep sense of tragedy and a haunting understanding of how people can be led to such a decision.