The true crime genre tends to sensationalize cult leaders like these, but Daughters of the Cult takes a more journalistic approach towards Ervil LeBaron, the leader of a splinter Mormon cult group. Primarily showing interviews, archived media, and blurry, out of angle re-enactments, the docuseries doesn’t exaggerate, knowing how horrifying the story already was, but it’s no less emotional as it comes from the perspective of the family this cult leader has tormented. Daughters of the Cult isn’t easy to watch, but it’s definitely a sobering, grounded perspective in a sea of colored cult crime depictions.
Synopsis
A deep-dive into the history of a splinter group of Mormon fundamentalist cult members who perpetrate a deadly wave of violence and abuse for decades in the name of their fanatical prophet, Ervil LeBaron.
Storyline
After escaping their father’s polygamous cult, his children Anna and Celia LeBaron step forward to tell the story of the Mormon splinter group that ordered the murders of opponents, practiced blood atonement, and hid away from the law.
TLDR
It’s probably a good thing to not make a murderous cult feel exciting.
What stands out
The journalistic approach in this series isn’t exciting, but the restraint is welcome considering how chilling the story already is.
