Netflix's Unchosen has topped streaming charts, but if you found this cult fantasy series underwhelming, these four gripping alternatives offer far more intrigue. The show, set in Surrey, failed to deliver the unsettling and mystifying experience promised, despite strong performances from Asa Butterfield, Molly Windsor and Fra Fe.
First up is Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, a four-part Netflix documentary series exploring the harsh realities of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Ex-members recount life under presidents Rulon Jeffs and his son Warren Jeffs, the latter serving a life sentence for child sex offences. The series exposes forced marriages of teenagers and children, human trafficking, and welfare fraud.
Another recommendation is The Village, a 2004 M. Night Shyamalan thriller set in 19th-century Pennsylvania. A small, isolated community lives in fear of mysterious beings. When a young resident dies, Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) seeks permission to venture into the forest for medicine, but is refused. Romance blossoms with Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard), a blind elder's daughter, before Lucius is severely injured. The film thrives on manipulation and deception, with a signature Shyamalan twist.
For those seeking a classic, The Wicker Man (1973) remains a cult staple. This British horror follows a police officer investigating a missing girl on a remote Scottish island, only to uncover a pagan community with sinister practices. The film's eerie atmosphere and shocking conclusion have cemented its status as a genre-defining work.
Finally, Wild Wild Country is a Netflix documentary series about the Rajneesh movement in 1980s Oregon. It chronicles the rise and fall of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's commune, which became embroiled in bioterror attacks, immigration fraud, and political corruption. The series offers a chilling look at how charismatic leaders can manipulate followers.
