Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Trusdale Nettles, David Koresh, Jim Jones
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15 Fascinating Cult Documentaries That Dive Into The Darkest Corners of Society

These true stories are truly shocking.

While we hesitate to call it entertainment, true crime has a very obvious pull in mainstream media. There are now thousands of podcasts, documentaries, and miniseries dedicated to exploring harrowing tales of murder, corruption, and other sinister plots. The stories told are often unfathomable, yet we can't help but be transfixed by the details. Be it a desire to understand the criminal mind or simply to indulge in a thrilling narrative, true crime has become an undeniable staple of pop culture.

Missing teens and cold cases may take the headlines most frequently, but there's one subgenre of true crime that tends to fly under the radar until it's too late: cults.

Unlike your average criminal syndicate, cults position themselves as something virtuous and desirable. They can masquerade for years, with leaders relying on psychological manipulation and control to maintain power. Cult docuseries explore the extreme behavior of people who have become enamored by powerful figures and radical ideologies.

From the well-known radical religious sects to seemingly innocent popular movements that unfold into something far darker, these investigations provide a glimpse into the power of cults and how quickly normalcy can turn sinister. For those looking to dive into the murky depths of cults past and present, here are 15 cult docuseries to dive into.

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