Netflix's new series 'Unchosen' has landed on the streaming platform, delving into the unsettling world of a religious cult. The star-studded thriller follows Rosie (Molly Windsor), a wife and mother trapped in an oppressive Christian sect, who begins to question her life after meeting an escaped convict.
The show opens with a party for the cult, known as The Fellowship of the Divine, where a sudden storm terrifies Rosie's daughter Grace (Olivia Pickering). She calls it 'the Rapture', a concept that looms large over the series. In Christian theology, the Rapture refers to an event where believers are resurrected or taken up to meet Christ in the air, leaving non-believers behind.
Though the term 'Rapture' does not appear in the Bible, it stems from interpretations of Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians, which describes believers being 'caught up' to meet the Lord. In 'Unchosen', the storm clouds symbolise this event, with Grace fearing being 'taken' against her will.
The series echoes themes from 'The Handmaid's Tale' and 'Happy Valley', as Rosie navigates a world where her husband Adam (Asa Butterfield) chastises her, and cult leader Mrs Phillips (Siobhan Finneran) enforces strict rules, such as banning children's magazines. The show explores who Rosie can trust as she seeks a way out.
