5 Best True Crime Docs About Cults

Cults are everywhere, turns out. It’s a shockingly easy business model, if you’re into that kind of thing. Not every cult is worthy of a true crime show about it, but the ones that are… phew! Go ahead and loosen up your jaw, because it will be on the floor in no time.

It’s easy to judge people who end up in cults (even though they’re the victims), but that pop of superiority isn’t always what keeps people watching. It’s often the opposite: the horror that we might’ve ended up in the same place, if propelled into the right circumstances.

But not all true crime is created the same, as we know from hours of time invested only to be disappointed, so here are 5 shows that will not disappoint or waste your time.

Heaven’s Gate (HBO)

You gotta love an alien-based cult. Shit gets weird really quick. But the wackiness of this group’s origin story is half of why it managed to form and take such a strong hold over its members. As we’ve seen in current events, the more far-fetched a claim, the more mental energy it takes to argue against it and unpack all the falsities and bullshit. Forget that there’s nothing provable about it in the first place. It makes for a great story!

Of course, as the so-called immortal leadership of this cult hits hard times (tricky to claim you’re immortal once you die), the numbers dwindle. But whoever is left after the cull is 180-proof cult ideology. That’s the only way it could end like it does…

Wild, Wild Country (Netflix)

Rajneeshpuram, like Heaven’s Gate, is a thing that could only have formed in the ‘70s. It’s New Age on steroids. But what sets this one apart is the soap opera quality of it. Backstabbing, scheming, major betrayals—so much fucking drama. Also, file this one away under “men creating sex cults in the name of spiritual teachings.” It’s a trope as old as time. Sometimes I wonder if it’s hard for narcissistic men to not create sex cults, ya know?

Beyond the twists and turns, this show is a solid artistic work. (Shout-out to the cults that film everything!) The editing is clean, and the story progresses organically. It doesn’t do that annoying thing where it holds back a big, important piece of information until the very end for the sake of it. If you’ve watched enough true crime, you know what I mean.

This is a fun one to watch not only because it’s wild, but because it’s relatively light on violence, so folks who are usually turned off from the genre for that reason can get into it.

Going Clear (HBO)

Yes, Scientology is a cult. Every cult expert classifies is this way, and when you watch this documentary, you’ll have a hard time arguing otherwise.

What this one does so well in a relatively short span of time is show you exactly how they get you. It attempts to answer the question of “How do people end up believing this absolute nonsense?” The lies start small, like most cult indoctrination. You learn some genuinely helpful psychological techniques, but with some unique language overlaid to disguise it. “Ah, maybe these people can help me!” And so they gain your trust as you descend one level deeper into the inferno. By the time the real batshit insane teachings come along, you look around, find your life is filled with people from the same cult, and think, Well, if they all believe it, maybe the problem is me. And the thought of leaving is paired with the knowledge that you’ll lose your entire social circle if you do. So you suck it up and step into the 9th circle of cognitive dissonance, and that dissonance breaks down any remaining sense you had.

Somehow, Going Clear manages to not only tackle that process of indoctrination, but expose larger systemic flaws in America, like how churches end up getting First Amendment protections through purely bureaucratic means, and the utter nonsense those protections allow them to do afterward.

I’ll end this one by saying that my L.E.O. husband watched it with me and couldn’t sleep afterward. Cop stuff? Not a big deal. Scientology? Nightmareville.

Sons of Sam (Netflix)

I love a good conspiracy that doesn’t lead to insurrection, assassination, or the unnecessary prolonging of a pandemic. This one’s got it.

We’ve all heard of the Son of Sam. If you’ve read any of John Douglas’s work, you probably know he interviewed David Berkowitz in prison and had a pretty epic conversation. But what Douglas didn’t uncover was the fact that the Son of Sam killings were very likely done by multiple people.

I dunno, y’all. After watching this one, I think I’m on board for the cult conspiracy. Too many people end up dead on the side for there not to be something going on, and as much as I loathe the whole Satanic Panic thing, sometimes people do use the concept of the devil to justify their evil impulses. Did the Devil make them do it? No. But the story might have inspired how they did it, and it might have emboldened their ego to go through with it.

Anyway, I’m ready to jump on this conspiracy theory, because it makes so much more sense than the narrative we’d been fed prior.

The Vow (HBO)

Another day, another sociopathic dude starting a sex cult. What sets this one apart is the intimate look you get into the lives of victims in the aftermath of escaping it. After all, one of them is the documentarian.

And that makes this extra interesting. A man who made the propaganda for the sex cult is now making a documentary about leaving it? How much can we trust the narrative from him? He certainly admits blame for some of the ideas he helped perpetuated in the leader’s inner circle, but I have a feeling there’s a lot left out to keep himself sympathetic. As you watch it, you’ll hear little snippets of things some of these members did to others—mentioned almost in passing—that make you shout, “the FUCK?” and then it’s never touched on again.

It’s a wild ride of sympathy and disgust, and you’ll never trust an NLP practitioner again (I don’t).

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There are a ton of cult documentaries that didn’t make the cut. If there was one you think belongs in the top five, let me know in a comment.

10 Best True Crime Shows to Look Inside the Mind of a Killer

Most true crime fans aren’t in it for the gore. They’re usually in it despite the gore. What’s the appeal, then? For me, it’s the psychology.

What makes someone feel justified in ending another person’s life? I’m not talking about in self-defense—we all understand that.

What justifications and beliefs go into a cold-blooded murder, particularly a premeditated one?

Not all true crime shows dig into this extensively or even at all. But if you like getting into the mind of a murderer, these 10 shows are must-sees for you.

1. I Am a Killer (Netflix)

   This series is a crash course in killer psychology. With each episode interviewing a different convicted killer, you get a sampling of the various explanations and justifications for taking a life. The most interesting part? Figuring out who is being honest and who is bullshitting for the sake of leniency.

   I also love this show because of the patterns and motifs that arise from this much data. Rough childhood, sexual abuse, bleak prospects for the future—after hearing the same story over and over again, you might even find yourself feeling unexpectedly sympathetic toward the inmates, and that’s no small feat for a show on this topic.

2. Dream/Killer (Netflix)

   Think you understand the human brain? This documentary will stretch your understanding of it. A reporter is murdered, and the one who’s fingered for the crime thinks he had a dream about it happening, but that’s it. This one is a windy road of forced confessions, framing, and a dad who seeks justice for his boy. And the biggest win of it all: it includes everyone’s favorite wrongful conviction lawyer from Making a Murderer Season 2: Kathleen Zellner.

3. The Jinx (HBO)

   What a wild ride this one is. With extensive interviews with the accused killer himself, you get a clear view into the mind of Robert Durst, loser son of a real estate mogul. Every so often, the universe treats us to a little bit of true crime that leaves our mouths hanging open, and The Jinx is one of those times. The investigation is a mess, the criminals are often too stupid to live, and the fact that anyone got away with anything is hardly more than a stroke of unbelievable luck. I won’t say more about this one other than it caused my husband and me to holler, gasp, and run confused circles around our living room while we watched. Don’t miss the last episode.

4. The Confessions Killer (Netflix)

   Not only does this one give you insight into the psychology of a killer, it exposes how the desperation of well-meaning law enforcement to get justice for their victims can lead to a grade-A clusterfuck. Henry Lee Lucas, the accused serial killer, does plenty of talking in this one. He talks and talks and talks, admitting to hundreds of murders and playing on the hopes and confirmation bias of the detectives, sheriffs, and rangers who come to him looking for answers. Why would someone admit to hundreds of murders? You’ll have to watch this show and figure it out.

5. The Bundy Tapes (Netflix)

   Ted Bundy is the go-to serial killer in the American public’s consciousness. Those uninitiated to true crime will give you his name first when you ask them to name a serial killer. They might not know anyone else, but they know Bundy. This series goes even deeper into his life, including facts about the case I’d never heard before. Listening to Bundy’s thoughts in his own words is truly chilling. Boy, is he a complete liar and sociopath. There are plenty of things we’ll never know about this man, but reading between the lines in this documentary might be as close as we’ll get…

6. Crazy, Not Insane (HBO)

   …or will it? Among the cold-blooded killers Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis interviewed in her storied career, the most notorious was Ted Bundy himself. Bundy was viewed for a long time as an anomaly due to his claim that he came from a stable family and suffered no abuse as a child. This documentary presents the most elegant solution to that conundrum: Bundy was lying. Perhaps the most interesting hypothesis put forward by this documentary that follows Dr. Lewis’s many interviews with killers is that multiple personality disorder (MPD) is behind most of the brutal slaying we hear about in the news. Could a disorder many psychologists still don’t acknowledge as real be what’s behind the violence? Take a peek into a killer’s mind through Dr. Lewis’s eyes and judge for yourself.

7. Killer Inside: Mind of Aaron Hernandez (Netflix)

   It’s not every day that a celebrity is arrested for a double murder. Thankfully. With serious OJ Simpson vibes running throughout, this documentary digs into the double life of Aaron Hernandez. It’s always interesting when the friends and family are split between, “He was the nicest guy ever,” and “I can see him doing this.” Either way, you get to watch a young man’s ascent in into the spotlight… while harboring a secret that was clearly eating him up. Ultimately a tragedy, this series will leave you with plenty to think about.

8. Into the Abyss (Netflix)

   It’s always a treat when the legendary documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog decides to tackle a complicated subject. Focusing on a triple homicide in my home state of Texas—notorious for a liberal and proud use of the death penalty—Herzog interviews the two boys (now men) convicted of the slayings, as well as the families of the victims. Are we getting the truth from the killers? Will state-sanctioned murder bring those hurting the peace they seek? What really sets this documentary apart is the outsider view Herzog, a German, brings to a subject as complicated and American as capital punishment. No oversimplification to this one, folks. Get ready for messy emotions.

9. Nail Bomber: Manhunt (Netflix)

   This show follows a different kind of killer, a more impersonal one, and because of that, it creates an interesting contrast to the others on this list. The nail bomber’s is a variety of hate that Americans like me are much more familiar with: white supremacy justifying death on a large scale. No intimate violence when you’re dealing with a bomber, which means the psychology behind it is completely different. The motivation differs. But there are some fascinating similarities in attitude between the nail bomber and many of the serial killers you’ve read all about. And you get to hear all about it through the bombers own letters.

10. Sophie: A Murder in West Cork (Netflix)

    As far as true crime can be humorous, this one is. At least I thought so. When you first see the person who (it’s later revealed) is the alleged murderer, he’s not presented as such, and yet, I found myself saying, “That guy looks like a fucking serial killer.” The murder is almost secondary to the real story here of how someone who so clearly murdered a woman got away with it. You’ll hear plenty from the killer himself… only you won’t know it’s him until later on. If you’ve been studying your killer psychology, you should have no problem fingering the perp before the evidence is all laid out.

Is there one that I missed that should have been on the list? Drop me a comment to let me know.