Join Us

"There are thousands of cults in America... This is the story of one."

2007 1h 40m EN

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 4

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

At the Mountain Rock Church in South Carolina, Pastor Raimund Melz leads a small Christian cult that justifies brutal actions like child abuse with the words of the Old Testament. Documentarian Ondi Timoner focuses on one family in particular, who left the church with plans to file charges against Melz before eventually checking into a one-of-a-kind cult treatment center. Timoner's film follows their journey as they receive psychological help and then return home to confront their former pastor.

“There are thousands of cults in America... This is the story of one.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ondi Timoner
Writers: Ondi Timoner
Languages: English

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 19 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ondi Timoner, shot by Ondi Timoner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "There are thousands of cults in America... This is the story of one.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1059801 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ondi Timoner directs. Ondi Timoner behind the camera. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 19 years ago.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Ondi Timoner, shot by Ondi Timoner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Marketing tagline: "There are thousands of cults in America... This is the story of one.".
5IMDB entry: tt1059801 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.