Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wry docuseries has violence, cursing, drugs, mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How to Become a Cult Leader
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Narrated by Peter Dinklage, HOW TO BECOME A CULT LEADER is a tongue-in-cheek documentary series that offers guidelines on how to create and maintain control over a group of people to do your bidding based on success of six of the most notorious cult leaders in history. Using profiles of infamous figures like Charles Manson, Jim Jones, Jaime Gomez, Marshall Applewhite, Aum Shinrikyo, and Rev. Sun Myung Moon, it specifies the characteristics a cult leader must have, and the things they must do to remain in power. It also points to a variety of lesser-known (or successful) cult leaders like NXIVM's Keith Raniere to help explain or highlight certain details. Throughout it all, a range of authors and experts offer brief commentary about cult leaders and cult psychology, and ex-cult members and other survivors discuss what was done to them while part of their respective communities.
Is It Any Good?
Like its sister series How to Become a Tyrant, this fast-paced show combines archive footage, animation, and irony-filled narration with the intent of informing viewers about basic cult behavior. It breaks down the list of "must haves" and "must dos" that cult leaders have to stick to in order to be, and remain, successful, including "growing your flock" and "reforming members' minds," and "promising eternity." It also focuses on the people that cults target, especially those who are vulnerable or who are searching for a greater purpose. But How to Become a Cult Leader manages to put much of the dry humor aside while touching on some of the more violent cult behaviors. It also makes a point of highlighting popular misunderstandings about cults, and the sensationalism and cruelty that is often perpetuated by media when characterizing their members and survivors. Granted, most of this is pretty superficial, but the overall series manages to deliver worthwhile information while being creative and entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what puts people at risk for being targeted by a cult. Are people who are lonely, poor, or feeling disenfranchised the only ones who end up in cults? Why?
Is How to Become a Cult Leader an objective docuseries? Is it appropriate that it presents information using dry humor? Would this be a better series if it offered the details about cults and their leaders in a more serious documentary format?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 28, 2023
- Cast : Peter Dinklage
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 31, 2023
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