As I may have mentioned, I love me a good cult film. My favourite take on the subject is a horror/thriller that ideally adds a supernatural slant to the cult narrative. Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene is probably the best “straight-up” cult film to date to me, but where the supernatural is concerned, I think The Endless is pretty great. The Veil (2016) had a huge potential to combine the two, I thought, but something appeared to be missing that could have made it stand out.
I do my best to watch everything that fits the bill when it comes to cult-themed stuff. Recently I watched 1BR (2019). Very “meh”, for sure, but it got me thinking about “cult films” – hence this thread. What with a theology degree and a lifelong fascination with the subject, I would argue that cults hardly ever have a mission or a “purpose”, except when it comes to exercising control over members (let’s set aside for a moment the obvious point that definitions of “cult” vary massively). Infamous historical cults, especially since the ‘70s (Heaven’s Gate, etc), constitute isolated communities with common practices, beliefs and “rituals”, whether or not grounded in spiritualism, and they are all about power. On to the film medium, at last. Whilst I believe most groups routinely designated as “cults” don’t actually tend to have a purpose or a mission, I think that therein lies the difference between film and real life. To me, to make any fictional narrative compelling and generate suspense, any cult needs to have a clearly defined purpose. There are exceptions – I don’t remember a particular purpose to Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene cult (perhaps because it is just a “woman in trouble” story at its core) – but I would say a philosophy/purpose differentiates a well-grounded cult from a random bunch of “creepy” people used to advance the plot. When I think of films with good, well-written cults, Rosemary’s Baby comes to mind (the Antichrist baby angle may have grown stale by now, but it’s hard to deny that this is a pretty specific cult mission that is portrayed in a comprehensive manner). The Endless’
WARNING: spoilers below
cult is rooted in rebirth and “dying over and over again” and, therefore, as some of the members see it, being immortal. The same broadly applies to The Veil – the cult members believed they would be reborn one day and they were
WARNING: spoilers below
members of the “Community” preferred to remain insulated from the outside world and aimed to create a self-sufficient ecosystem, but that’s more akin to agoraphobia to me and reminiscent of Columbus Circle
The Devil Wears Prada protagonist also has to follow a bunch of perhaps bizarre rules, so there’s a similarity there, but we don’t make that into a cult narrative. Whilst I have acknowledged that the sociological/theological definition of “cult” is a tough nut to crack and is understandably ambiguous, I think when it comes to scriptwriting it is important to actually portray the dynamics of the cult in films dealing with the subject, otherwise, it feels a bit lazy. As such, I thought the Hereditary cult was quite well-written. Sure, there was still the criticism that it’s all very vague, which I agree with, but we are shown in no uncertain terms that King Paimon gives the cult members what they want, including “knowledge of all secret things… honour, wealth and o familiars” plenty as long as they keep up the ritualistic practice. So whatever the shortcomings of the film may be, the cult part is fine by me. Anyone know of any films where there is actually a coherent, well-grounded, comprehensive philosophy to the cult that we as viewers get to see? |
Re: The cinematic rendition of cults
I love Martha Marcy May Marlene. An underrated gem.
Try: Distance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278413...ws?ref_=tt_urv Sound of my Voice: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748207/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Maybe even Midsommar? |
Originally Posted by ScarletLion (Post 2211759)
I love Martha Marcy May Marlene. An underrated gem.
Try: Distance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278413...ws?ref_=tt_urv Sound of my Voice: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748207/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Maybe even Midsommar? Don’t think I’ve seen Distance, so thanks, will check out. |
Re: The cinematic rendition of cults
Sound of my Voice is a good choice. The kind of film that, even if it wasn't spectacular, sorta sticks with you.
The Void has a cult-ish element, even if it's barely explored. Also, Mandy. |
Originally Posted by Thief (Post 2211765)
Sound of my Voice is a good choice. The kind of film that, even if it wasn't spectacular, sorta sticks with you.
The Void has a cult-ish element, even if it's barely explored. Also, Mandy.
WARNING: spoilers below
that it’s all ‘true’, which then becomes the surprise/‘gotcha’ element as in The Endless
I like Mandy and have seen it a few times, and I guess you’re right. They are a pretty good cult. Not much in a way of grounding, but very picturesque. |
Originally Posted by AgrippinaX (Post 2211769)
I really thought The Void could have been more about cults if the director wanted to go there. The idea
WARNING: spoilers below
that it’s all ‘true’, which then becomes the surprise/‘gotcha’ element as in The Endless
A lot of people have mentioned The Endless to me. I'm gonna have to prioritize that one. Seems very much like my jam. |
Originally Posted by Thief (Post 2211770)
I agree. I really like the atmosphere and vibe of the film, though. And the practical effects are great.
A lot of people have mentioned The Endless to me. I'm gonna have to prioritize that one. Seems very much like my jam. |
True Detective S1
The Skulls The Da Vinci Code Conan the Barbarian Dark City |
Originally Posted by John-Connor (Post 2211777)
True Detective S1
The Skulls The Da Vinci Code Conan the Barbarian Dark City Looks like I’m finally on to True Detective, huh! |
I highly recommend The Invitation from 2015. It's one of the best horror movies of the 2010s if you ask me.
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Originally Posted by Torgo (Post 2211805)
I highly recommend The Invitation from 2015. It's one of the best horror movies of the 2010s if you ask me.
From that point of view, Sound of My Voice really is a good one. |
Re: The cinematic rendition of cults
I think that most films about "cults" approach them as something either mysterious or just downright horrible/bad, which is why I think most scripts tend not to delve into the internal philosophy/beliefs of the cult per se. Maybe that's why it's so hard to find what you're looking for.
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Originally Posted by Thief (Post 2211814)
I think that most films about "cults" approach them as something either mysterious or just downright horrible/bad, which is why I think most scripts tend not to delve into the internal philosophy/beliefs of the cult per se. Maybe that's why it's so hard to find what you're looking for.
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I don't know if these are exactly what you asked, but at least they have cults.
The Empty Man (2020) End of the Line (2007) The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw (2020) The House of the Devil (2009) Kill List (2011) The City of the Dead (1960) Satan's Slaves (2017) Also, seconding True Detective season one. And I guess, Conan the Barbarian has enough cult involvement to count as well. |
Originally Posted by pahaK (Post 2211823)
I don't know if these are exactly what you asked, but at least they have cults.
The Empty Man (2020) End of the Line (2007) The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw (2020) The House of the Devil (2009) Kill List (2011) The City of the Dead (1960) Satan's Slaves (2017 Also, seconding True Detective season one. And I guess, Conan the Barbarian has enough cult involvement to count as well. |
Re: The cinematic rendition of cults
Netflix had a tv series called The Cult. Maybe you've seen it. It was the first thing to get me interested in cults.
Don't remember if the cult had an interesting philosophy or not. I think it mainly had a charismatic leader. |
Re: The cinematic rendition of cults
Reading around a bit... but what about Holy Smoke? Haven't seen it, but it stars Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel. Not sure what it is about but came up on a search.
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Originally Posted by beelzebubble (Post 2211832)
Netflix had a tv series called The Cult. Maybe you've seen it. It was the first thing to get me interested in cults.
Don't remember if the cult had an interesting philosophy or not. I think it mainly had a charismatic leader. |
Originally Posted by beelzebubble (Post 2211832)
Netflix had a tv series called The Cult. Maybe you've seen it. It was the first thing to get me interested in cults.
Don't remember if the cult had an interesting philosophy or not. I think it mainly had a charismatic leader. |
Originally Posted by Thief (Post 2211836)
There was also that show with Aaron Paul and Hugh Dancy, The Path. I never saw it, but my wife did and said it was... ehhh, ok? :laugh:
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