Danse avec le diable: Une secte sur TikTok?

Typical Netflix doc.

First episode is interesting, telling a tale of the TicTok dance craze phenomenon that kids seem so entranced by, personally I don't get it, but the story is about the manipulation by a "Man Of God" who in the time honoured tradition of presenting himself as an artist's manager and Christian church leader proceeds to rip off his young artists/followers.

After the first episode it just starts to drag out people's stories over the next 2 episodes, with no particular resolution. I guess they're rather hoping that eventually there'll be enough for a follow up further 2 or 3 episodes. This could have been a succinct 1 hour, 8 star programme, however as it is, it's a bloated 5 stars, tops.

Another upsetting case of vulnerable people getting swallowed by cults and religion. The exploitative, predatory leaders of course get away with everything because "religious freedom" *barf*..

Seriously, you can have your beliefs about an afterlife without ever joining any church or movement.. without following a bunch of rules that are made-up to benefit the predatory leaders (yuck!)

People are lonely and we urgently need plenty of affordable, non-religious meetup community spaces all around the world where people can go to when they crave community. A place where people can grab a coffee, talk to each other, play board games, etc.. I think that would benefit society WAY more than any "holy" building (They exist for power and profit).

When it comes to this documentary, I sincerely hope that Miranda and the other cult members wakes tf up and see what's really going on. And the ex-members who are trying to get Robert convicted; I cheer for you all the way from the other side of the atlantic ocean.. Take that mf DOWN!

As Episode 1 of "Dancing For the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" (2024 release; 3 episodes ranging 49-38 min each) opens, we are in "Detroit, MI" and a woman named Melissa laments "I miss my sister so much". That would be Miranda, whose dance videos, made by 7M, have gone viral on TIkTok. 7M happens to be run by a pastor of the Shekinah Church in Los Angeles. Miranda has severed all contact with her family... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Derek Doneen ("The Price of Free"). Here he digs into the situation at the Shekinah Church in Los Angeles which also runs the "talent management" company called 7M. The documentary's talking heads are primarily former members who have left. We are given ample evidence of financial shenanigans and worse. A man who claims to be "Man of God" and manipulates people into believing that if they please him, they please God directly. Hmmm, where have we heard this before? It is your classical cult. It never fails to amaze me how people still fall for this, time and again. At 3 episodes, this clips by in no time.

"Dancing For the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" premiered on Netflix earlier this week. I watched all 3 episodes in a single setting. If you are intrigued how people get sucked into a cult, whether they realize or or not, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

You may be forgiven for thinking this is just another Netflix cult story, and for the most part, it is just exactly that, it's another Netflix cult story.

Parts one and three dragged on a bit, the second episode however was interesting, with some surprising and revealing information.

Part of me still struggles to see how these young people and up falling for such nonsense, and landing up in cults, but it seems to keep on happening. Is it my British cynicism striking once again?

Sometimes it feels so artificial, too much is done for the cameras, and as such it feels artificial.

Gen Z is definitely not shown in a great light, Miranda's life through social media is quite tragic to watch, everything she does seems fake and insincere, tragically she looks dead behind her eyes.

Overall, it's watchable enough, but I do wish Netflix had condensed it down to two episodes.

6/10.

This could've been a lot better. It's so drawn out because they insist on showing many clips of this awful "social media dancing", which isn't even good and is choreographed poorly. To make it worse, they play sound clips of the incredibly creepy and grating voice of Robert over them, which makes it even more painful to watch. Also, there's really nothing to this other than a family exploited low-IQ, gullible people to line their pockets with money. Kind of like what pastors at every mega church too. Just another Joel Osteen-lite.

You can tell this entire story in a 45 minute episode. Also there isn't much of a conclusion, yet. Premature, drawn-out series, most likely just being used as a cash grab, which is super ironic given that the context of this documentary is gullible people being exploited for money!