Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult

"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 whose prior work includes the Emmy-nominated "Brave Miss World". 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--she is credited as an Executive Producer for "Seduced"), 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 STARZ, 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 STARZ and is now available on STARZ 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.

*UPDATE 10/25/20* I just saw Episode II "Indoctrination", which in fact is better than the first episode. India Oxenberg revisits the NXIVM ol' stomping grounds in New Albany, and retells in excruciating details of the "Jness" courses, where Keith Ranieri purposefully blurs the lines between rape and consent and claims with a straight face that "a victim complaining is being the abuser". Yea, you read that right. One of the cult experts explains that the indoctrination methods used by NXIVM are in the same vein as those used by ISIS. Wow, just wow. Just watch!

*UPDATE 11/1/20* Episode III "Enslaved" is now in the books, and it is by far the most explicit and gruesome episode to date. India Oxenberg details how she is ordered by her master (Allison Mack) to seduce Keith Ranieri, while along the way India is isolated, degraded and psychologically raped. There are no words.

This documentary series is a more traditional take on the same subject matter as "The Vow." The difference is that while the HBO series took you into NXIVM in a way similar to that of a recruit, presenting the attractive and rational sounding side first, helping you understand how otherwise intelligent people could get involved, this series immediately gets to the weird, culty stuff that, had it been put upfront, would have had people running for the doors at their first seminar. What this series adds is a lot more informaton, about cults from recognized experts, about Keith Reniere's background from journalists, about the various sources from which he and Nancy Salzman cobbled together their teachings. Also, though the main focus is on a high status celebrity mother and daughter, we do get interviews from ordinary people who got caught up in NXIVM. Together with "The Vow," this series gives a more rounded view of a very insidious non-religious cult.

I'm sure this series will inevitably be compared to The Vow. Personally, I enjoyed Seduced more. The pace was faster (partially because the season is about half the length as the vow) and somehow still included more information. I felt like this series was much more in depth, both on the inner workings of DOS and Keith Raniere, and was just generally more compelling. The interviews with India and her family are raw and honest, and tell a full picture of the events that transpired during India's time in NXIVM.

Although interested in the subject, I simply had no patience for HBO's "The Vow"--after a few episodes I lost all sympathy for the supposed victims/perpetrators who did nothing but film themselves excessively and express regret that didn't seem awfully sincere. "Seduced" gets right to the ugly heart of the matter and is infinitely more compelling. So far, most of those who seemed to figure so prominently in "The Vow"--justifying and endlessly "explaining" have not shown up--with the exception of actress Catherine Oxenberg, who here seems more like a concerned parent rather than a participant in "The Real Cult Mothers of Los Angeles."

This is a reminder, if one was ever needed (especially in these times, right?), that critical thinking is above all a survival skill.

Although obviously scripted, and more like a damage control move from the protagonists, this is still a fascinating insight into the cult phenomenon and psychology.

I liked the protagonist's mother and grandmother. India was indeed very young, and that is probably why she got away with it, unlike that Smallville actress and the co-president (can't remember their names). It is very entertaining and in the same time cautionary. It's quite fascinating to see where stupidity (not necessarily a low IQ, but bad decision making and ignoring one's intuition) paired with insanity can lead. All these victims are unfortunately part of the problem, although being stupid is not an invitation to abuse. The endless list of criminal activities within this cult is unbelievable. Everyone is lucky to still be alive and they now have a chance to learn, recover and move on. An important lesson for everyone.