|
|
"Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult" (2020 release; 4 episodes of about 55 min, each) examines the so-called self-help but in reality cult group NXIVM. As Episode 1 "Hooked" opens, we meet India Oxenberg, as she shows us a house and remarks: "I was the first woman in my group of slaves to be branded." She adds: "I was looking for a purposeful life. What happened vs. what I wanted to believe happened?" We then go back in time, and Catherine Oxenberg, of "Dynasty" fame and India's mother, recalls how in 2011 she was invited to an introductory meeting of something called "Executive Success Program" (ESP), and asked India, then 19 yrs. old, to come along. Much to her surprise, Indian agrees and then takes an interest in taking more ESP classes. Catherine reluctantly agrees... At this point we are 10 min. into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this series is directed by film maker Cecilia Peck, daughter of Gregory and herself also a NXIVM cult member at one point. Here she covers the same territory as the recently concluded 9 part HBO documentary series "The Vow", but with 2 major differences: (i) Peck gets the full cooperation of India Oxenberg (who refused to cooperate with "The Vow" film makers), and (ii) Peck skips over a lot of the details of how this self-help group turned into a cult, and instead zeroes in on what India's personal experiences were in her 7 years at NXIVM (2011-2018). It's not that one is inherently better or worse than the other. But it's also clear why "Seduced" fits perfectly on the more sensationalist, star-oriented STARSZ, while "The Vow" premiered on HBO. From my own (subjective) perspective, I appreciated the time (literally: years) and detailed efforts that the makers of "The Vow" took to unearth and bring together all the pieces of a very complicated puzzle.
"Seduced" premiered this weekend on STARSZ and is now available on STARSZ On Demand and other streaming services. Even though I already know how it all plays out having seen "The Vow", I still plan on watching the remaining 3 episodes of "Seduced". Why? Because you just can't make this stuff up! Facts are always stranger than fiction. If you have any interest in understanding how a cult actually works, or simply are a fan of the Oxenbergs, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
score 6/10
paul-allaer 18 October 2020
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6187359/ |
|
19-10-2020 01:16:02