Pray, Obey, Kill

"Pray Obey Kill" (2020 release from Sweden; original title "Knutby: I blind tro" ("Knutby: In Blind Faith"); 5 episodes of each about 60 min.) is a documentary TV series about a murder mystery which took place in 2004 in Knutby, a small community about 60 mi. North of Stockholm. As Episode 1 "Where Truth Lies" opens, it is "Stockholm 2019", and a a former Pastor who was convicted for inciting murder and attempted murder in 2004 is wanting to go on record and finally "tell the truth" after all these years. We then go back to "Knutby, January 10, 2004", when a man calls 112 (Sweden's version of 911) to report that he's been shot. The cops come out and find him badly wounded. It isn't long before they also discover the body of a woman, shot to death, in the next door house... What is going on here? At this point we are 10 min. Into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this documentary series is directed by Henrik Georgsson, a veteran of Swedish TV. Here he retells the story of a sensational murder case in rural Sweden, set in a small Pentecostal congregation. "In the beginning it looked like an ordinary murder, but there was so much more to it" comments a Swedish reporter. Of course the fact that this happened in rural Sweden, it could never be just "another murder" as they things simply don't happen there. But what really stoked the public's interest is the religious setting and context within which it all plays out. Episode 1 covers a LOT of ground, and it is clear that not much should be taken at first impression. In fact, what this reminds me of (so far) is the documentary series of last year called "The Vow", where layer after layer was exposed until you get down into the rabbit hole and you must suspect all belief and simply persevere. Another recent show that comes to mind is the Danish TV mini-series simply called "The Investigation". I can't wait to see the remaining episodes of "Pray Obey Kill".

Episodes 1 and 2 of "Pray Obey Kill" premiered on HBO this week and is now available on HBO On Demand, Amazon Instant Video, and other streaming services. If you have any interest in "true crime" documentaries, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

First, I'm not one of those people who hates subtitles just because they think everything should be in English. But, c'mon HBO! This is from Sweden. You know, a place famous for abundant snowy landscapes. So you give us small white text against an often-white background. It's just too much of a strain to watch.

Maybe you have to be like me and be an American who had never heard of this story. The subtitles were fine and easy to read, some people you just can't please. I felt like the two reporters were my guides and walked me , a stranger, through the case I think they are all crazy and prove religion is the root of allevil.

Confusing start. Slow is an understatement. Try and follow.

The show doesn't really form any hypothesis, adds new insights or fundamentally questions the conclusions of the courts. Maybe it shouldn't, but it does make it all the more relevant to make this 3-4 episodes and not just 6.

Mostly it is a fascinating look inside the inner workings of a Christian cult in Sweden,