Expository docuseries have been the talk of the town this year, especially those that deal with heavy subject matter such as abuse or manipulation.
The biggest example of this was Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, which was released on MAX and Discovery+ in April of this year. The five-part docuseries took audiences through events that took place throughout the 1990s and 2000s at children’s television studios, revealing terrible things about what many had to go through during that time.
However, a new docuseries recently hit Netflix that has once again taken its viewers on a whirlwind ride, this time exposing a media company and church that many believe to be a cult in disguise.
Dancing for the Devil arrived on Netflix on May 29 and has already become a hit amongst viewers, many of whom are disturbed by its subject matter.
The show revolves around 7M Films, a media management company that has worked with several TikTok dancers over the years.
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Led by Robert Shinn, 7M allegedly manipulates its TikTok dancers, cutting them off from their friends and families and taking a large portion of their income in the process.
The series also dives into Shinn’s other venture, Shekinah Church, which began in 1999.
From there, the tangled web of Shinn’s alleged abuse and manipulation is unveiled to have been ongoing long before TikTok was even created.
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Director Derek Doneen spoke to Netflix's Tudum about the show’s subject matter, saying: “I think audiences will be surprised by how easily regular people can get sucked into cult-like groups and how devastating the impact can be on families, friends, and communities.”
The show heavily focuses on the Wilking family, who have lost contact with their daughter and sister, Miranda Derrick, as a result of her membership in 7M.
“I’m in awe of the families who let us in as they worked tirelessly to rescue their loved ones.”
Jessica Acevedo, the executive producer of the series, shared similar sentiments: “This series is about exposing the wrongdoers and setting the story straight, all with the hope of helping those still under the control of the church.”
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As for viewers of the show, many were captivated and amazed by its contents.
“Watched this and found it incredibly fascinating,” said one commenter on Facebook, “I binged it in one go.”
Another commented about the frustrated feeling they felt after watching the show, stating: “This documentary made me feel really sad for everyone involved, but also made me furious about the fact that this man hasn't been punished for his actions yet. It sucks.”
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And someone else said: "Watched it and was very shocked to see dancers I’ve been following was caught up in this."
Dance for the Devil can be streamed on Netflix now.
Dylan Murray