A feature film debuted this month focused upon a cult story, reports di-ve.com.
Titled “Savage Messiah” the movie is the true story of cult leader Roch Theriault and was directed by Mario Azzopardi. Its European Premiere Screening took place yesterday.
The film tells the all too familiar story these days, about an archetypal charismatic cult leader victimizing women and children.
Theriault calls himself “Moses,” but might easily be interchangeable with David Koresh. Both men exploited women sexually and sired many children.
In this account a child’s death prompts a social service worker to intervene.
Once again this is similar to other cult tragedies, such as the abuse of children within a Canadian group called the “Church of God Restoration,” led by Daniel Layne.
The caseworker in “Savage Messiah” wants to protect Theriault’s followers. And that struggle becomes the primary focus and conflict within the new film.
Sadly in many situations, the authorities actually arrive too late to protect many of those harmed by cult leaders.
“Savage Messiah” may seem “over the top” to some, but it is actually just one more account to add on the growing list of destructive cult stories around the world.
Hopefully, Azzopardi’s film will bring more attention to the plight of cult victims.
A low budget independent film is attempting to cash in on the sensational real-life story of a “vampire cult,” reports the Orlando Sentinel.
The story sounds like Goths gone wrong.
However, the so-called “Goth” movement is essentially benign and composed of somewhat odd and often anti-mainstream young people that like to dress in black, avoid the sunshine and live within their own rather dark subculture.
But one Goth group in Florida came under the spell of a psychopath.
This self-styled “vampire clan” was dominated by a leader called “The Maker,” who took his followers on a journey from a quirky group to a destructive cult.
This type of idiosyncratic cult was reminiscent of the Manson Family. That is, a group playing out the deluded fantasies of a deranged leader.
Rather than an indictment of the Goth movement, the film “Vampire Clan” serves, as a reminder of how personality-driven groups dominated by disturbed leaders can easily become destructive.
“The Maker” was sentencedd to death in the electric chair for murder, which was later reduced to life in prison.
CBS News Affiliate Channel 2 in Chicago did an excellent two-part story last month about the power of hypnosis and controversial therapies.
Within this compelling piece reported by Pam Zekman viewers actually can observe hypnotherapy sessions and see how suggestible people are, while in a hypnotic trance.
Under the influence of a self-proclaimed “psychologist” participants recall “past lives.”
It is easy to see through this televised two-part series how some bizarre claims of “ritual abuse” and/or “alien UFO abductions” can be created through implanted or false memories.
A virtual subculture exists in America today composed of “satanic ritual abuse” and “alien abduction” “survivors,” many basing their claims upon “recovered” memories brought forth through such controversial modes of therapy.
Some animal rights and environmental extremists have moved from the fringe to violence.
Such groups as the so-called “Earth Liberation Front” (ELF) have gone beyond the ballot box and political rhetoric to express their opinions through criminal acts.
ELF claimed responsibility for torching houses in Michigan, reports the Associated Press.
$400,000 dollars in damage was the end result of ELF’s latest hit and run guerrilla warfare. And this is not the first time they have committed arson to make a political point.
But even more troubling is the possibility that ELF may be recruiting minor children.
Authorities in California picked up a juvenile runaway, she had been traveling with an ELF group.
The 16-year-old girl was ultimately booked, reports the Napa Valley Register.
It seems that ELF is willing to work with minor children without parental consent.
The organization might be recruiting through the Internet.
Web surfers can see photos of recent fires they claim responsibility for on the ELF official website.
Some families say such extremist groups have “brainwashed” their children, not unlike destructive cults.
Groups like ELF are one more reason for parents to closely monitor the Internet use of their minor children.
