Club Benefits
From the outside, it’s baffling how easily someone can be pulled into a cult. We’ve seen the pattern a thousand times: A charismatic predator preys on the vulnerable by promising community, only to replace their identity with absolute control. By the time the followers realize they're trapped, the "family" has become a prison.
This terrifying psychological shift is exactly why we are so obsessed with cults on screen. There is a reason "drinking the Kool-Aid" remains such a haunting part of our vocabulary; whether it’s historical tragedies like Jonestown or fictional thrillers like Netflix's recent "Unchosen," we are fascinated by how easily a narcissist can hoodwink a massive population into the unthinkable.
'The Following'
Anyone who knows me has heard my impassioned monologue about how Edgar Allan Poe isn’t all doom and gloom. He was a broke writer giving the public what they wanted, but look past middle-school staples like "The Raven," and you’ll find a body of work built on love and loss.
Playing to my twin obsessions with Poe and Kevin Bacon, the 2013 thriller show "The Following" centers on serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). Carroll weaponizes Poe’s Gothic romanticism to gather a "clubhouse" of killers who worship him like a god — even from behind bars. While Carroll holds his ex-wife Claire (Natalie Zea) hostage, Bacon’s Ryan Hardy leads a desperate cat-and-mouse chase to save her. Created by Kevin Williamson, the series is a masterclass in fanaticism and tragic romance. I still kind of hate the ending, but the journey is unforgettable.
Watch "The Following" on Netflix
'Servant'
M. Night Shyamalan is the king of the psychological twist, so it’s no surprise he helmed 2019’s "Servant." I attended the fourth-season premiere, and as a New Yorker, the traumatizing bedbug scene displayed on a massive theater screen still haunts my nightmares.
The show blends supernatural horror with the cult concept, making the atmosphere feel uniquely insidious. It kicks off with a couple, Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean (Toby Kebbell), who hire a nanny to care for a "reborn" doll that serves as a stand-in for their deceased baby, Jericho. Nanny Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) seemingly brings the baby back to life with supernatural cult powers—or does she? In true Shyamalan fashion, the reality is shrouded in ambiguity. Filled with homages to "Misery" and "The Shining, =" this series is a highly underrated exploration of grief and obsession.
'The Boys'
At first glance, "The Boys" is a dark superhero satire, but look Deep-er past the disturbing tentacle smut and you’ll find a cult at the heart of society. The series highlights how the Church of the Collective is embroiled in superhero propaganda, using "charity" to mask a conspiracy involving the V compound. The hypocrisy is absolute: Leaders preach homophobic ideology while partaking in the very acts they condemn.
As the show progresses, superhero worship evolves into full-blown authoritarianism. Homelander eventually positions himself as a literal god, using media manipulation, radicalization and fear-mongering to silence critics. It’s a perfect depiction of how a charismatic narcissist can seize absolute power. For those who want these themes without the superhero orgy aesthetic, "Marvel’s Runaways" offers a lighter, teen-centric take on a similar cult premise.
Watch "The Boys" on Prime Video
'Making Manson'
Cult leaders love to tout the word "family," but the moment your devotion wavers, you become the enemy. Charles Manson used his Family to incite a race war, warping mysticism and occultism to hoodwink followers into fearing an impending apocalypse. He even co-opted the Beatles, using a twisted interpretation of "Helter Skelter" as his catalyst.
Manson used LSD and orchestrated paranoia to ensure his believers never questioned his word. Though he famously claimed, "I never said I was innocent; I said I didn’t break the law," the courts disagreed, handing him a death sentence in 1971 (later commuted to life). Billie Mintz’s three-part docuseries features 20 years of never-before-heard conversations between Manson and a pen pal. Hearing his bone-chilling laugh as he maintains his innocence offers a terrifying look into the psyche of a man who could wield such total influence.
Watch "Making Manson" on Peacock
'Midnight Mass'
Cults, but make it horror. After creating masterpieces like "The Haunting of Hill House," Mike Flanagan delivered "Midnight Mass" in 2021. The story chronicles a priest who transforms into a religious cult leader on a secluded island, but unlike leaders who merely claim to perform miracles, Father Paul (Hamish Linklater) has a little help from a supernatural "friend."
By the time the islanders realize something is wrong, the "infection" has already taken hold of their neighbors. The disturbing nature of blind worship is amped up to eleven as dead birds fall from the sky and plague-like disasters strike. Featuring a stellar cast including Kate Siegel and Zach Gilford, this miniseries is a haunting look at how faith can be twisted into something monstrous.
Watch "Midnight Mass" on Netflix
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