Documentary Review: The Vow
Wow. Simply wow. One of the craziest documentaries I’ve seen in a while.
If you haven’t heard of The Vow (available for streaming on HBO Max) let me give you some background. The Vow follows the story of a cult called NXIVM and the attempts of several former members to remove themselves from the cult. Now I had no idea this cult existed, but after having watching the show I was blown away by it. First of all it’s only 23 years old, having been founded in 1998 by Keith Raniere. Now this guy is a piece of work and the focal point of most of the cult. It’s his persona and manipulation that fuels the whole operation. NXIVM operates under the guise of a self-help/personal development program, which clearly aided in the brainwashing process for so many. The wildest aspect to me though is how many prominent and successful people the organization brings in. There are well-known actors, producers, politicians, business people all drawn in to this program and its leader Keith, who everyone is forced to call Vanguard.
Things get ramped up when you learn about the secret society of women that exists within the organization. It’s referred to as DOS and involves “master and slave” dynamics with horrific demands put on those who are members. Intense blackmail is involved, mental manipulation on a disturbing scale, and forced sexual interactions with the leader of it all, Keith Raniere. It sounds like something that would be made up, but yet it unfolded over the course of the past 20 years, ruining countless lives along the way. The horror stories of people trying to leave are incredible. One woman was attacked with 200 lawsuits by Keith and the organization simply for resigning. The organization is backed by seemingly unlimited financial resources, allowing it to bully and silence anyone who opposes it.
Perhaps the best part of the doc though is how it seemingly unfolds in real time. The key members who left the organization smartly decided to document their attempts to leave and their subsequent attempt to expose Keith Raniere and NXIVM as criminals, and it makes for incredibly compelling content. You see the raw emotions of those involved and just how difficult it can be to overthrow a powerful organization. I won’t spoil the ending or the entire NXIVM story, but given it is still an ongoing matter to this day, there is already a season 2 of the series in production. I personally cannot wait to see the rest of the saga unfold.
Anyway, go watch this doc. It’s a 9 part series on HBO Max. You won’t regret it.