Ep 122: The Vow and Seduced

PULLED INTO THE VOW AND SEDUCED

Kathy, Mark and Burk take a look at two sets of documentaries about a multi-level marketing scam gone bad called NXIVM headed up by Keith Raniere, and we decide that it’s best to watch both series - starting with THE VOW on HBO and then for the rest of the story, check out SEDUCED: INSIDE THE NXVIM CULT on STARZ.

We review THE VOW, directed by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer, which is a 9 episode series that gradually guides you through what lured people in, and then SEDUCED, directed by Cecelia Peck, which continues and expands on the story, and in 4 episodes, it’s shocking, haunting and brutal. If you watch the news, you know that justice eventually found the right people, but it’s not an easy journey. Featuring Catherine Oxenberg, India Oxenberg, Bonnie Piesse, Sarah Edmondson and Mark Vicente.

It’s a harrowing look into a nightmarish cult with a despotic overlord and followers who at first glance seem to be these numbed-out gullible people who got played by a maniac, but as you watch, you realize that the folks who survived this horror aren’t what you might expect.  

Check out the video version of our review of THE VOW and SEDUCED on YouTube! And please subscribe!