Danse avec le diable: Une secte sur TikTok?

Wow, this one was totally binge-worthy! "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" is an engaging and informative Netflix documentary that dives into the unsettling world of a management firm with ties to a church. The story follows TikTok dancers as they join the firm and uncover disturbing truths about the founders' sinister agenda. The documentary kept us hooked from start to finish with its compelling storytelling and shocking revelations about how easily vulnerable people can be manipulated.

The damage inflicted by these greedy individuals, who see themselves above God, is both alarming and heartbreaking. As we learn more about their grooming tactics, it's clear that we need to reassess what is allowed to happen to vulnerable people in our society. This is a must-watch for anyone who loves cult documentaries, as it provides a thorough and chilling look at the lengths some will go to exploit others for their gain.

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!

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.

Robert Shinn saw a golden opportunity to expand his flock by 7 million followers through his son's band of influential Tik Tok dancers, and dollar signs danced across his eyes. His true intent lies plainly in the title of company he set up to do so - 7M Management, that is to manage 7 million potential followers and their coffers, because those who follow these dancers would by proxy be following him in his demented grandiose mind.

It was especially heartbreaking to see Dean, Miranda's father, breaking down in tears as he described his horrific realisation that he was losing his daughter to the cult of Robert Shinn. Only thirty minutes into the first episode, you can see the mechanism of the cult churning away at isolating the dancers from their families to gain total and complete control over them in the name of Jesus.

I am not a believer in religion but I also would never believe something as omnipotent as a god would care for a portion of our earnings; what use would they have for it. What has Robert Shinn or any of the other proselytisers done with all the money they have stolen from their followers, other than spend it on themselves? These malignant narcissists know the power of religion and wield it to gain supply, but their appetite is insatiable. In the age of social media and rapid influence, it is more relevant than ever before to question someone's motives when they use the influence of religion on you.

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.