Danse avec le diable: Une secte sur TikTok?

As Episode 1 of "Dancing For the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" (2024 release; 3 episodes ranging 49-38 min each) opens, we are in "Detroit, MI" and a woman named Melissa laments "I miss my sister so much". That would be Miranda, whose dance videos, made by 7M, have gone viral on TIkTok. 7M happens to be run by a pastor of the Shekinah Church in Los Angeles. Miranda has severed all contact with her family... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Derek Doneen ("The Price of Free"). Here he digs into the situation at the Shekinah Church in Los Angeles which also runs the "talent management" company called 7M. The documentary's talking heads are primarily former members who have left. We are given ample evidence of financial shenanigans and worse. A man who claims to be "Man of God" and manipulates people into believing that if they please him, they please God directly. Hmmm, where have we heard this before? It is your classical cult. It never fails to amaze me how people still fall for this, time and again. At 3 episodes, this clips by in no time.

"Dancing For the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" premiered on Netflix earlier this week. I watched all 3 episodes in a single setting. If you are intrigued how people get sucked into a cult, whether they realize or or not, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

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.

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.

Another upsetting case of vulnerable people getting swallowed by cults and religion. The exploitative, predatory leaders of course get away with everything because "religious freedom" *barf*..

Seriously, you can have your beliefs about an afterlife without ever joining any church or movement.. without following a bunch of rules that are made-up to benefit the predatory leaders (yuck!)

People are lonely and we urgently need plenty of affordable, non-religious meetup community spaces all around the world where people can go to when they crave community. A place where people can grab a coffee, talk to each other, play board games, etc.. I think that would benefit society WAY more than any "holy" building (They exist for power and profit).

When it comes to this documentary, I sincerely hope that Miranda and the other cult members wakes tf up and see what's really going on. And the ex-members who are trying to get Robert convicted; I cheer for you all the way from the other side of the atlantic ocean.. Take that mf DOWN!