New DocuseriesScreen Daily: The Leader’s review: Michael Gallagher weaves gripping, grim drama about Heaven’s Gate cultIn The Leader, writer-director Michael Gallagher delivers a gripping, psychological exploration of the 1997 Heaven’s Gate mass suicide, effectively balancing sheer horror with a sincere curiosity about the cult’s inner workings. The film stars Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga as the infamous leaders, Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Nettles. Rather than treating the pair simply as oddballs or offering easy explanations for the tragedy, the two leads create an unsettling internal logic for their characters, showcasing the disturbing seductiveness of their self-assured, ascetic dogma to desperate, spiritually adrift followers.
Gallagher's direction is praised for maintaining a "delicate tonal tightrope," recreating the cloistered, summer-camp-like community without making the characters relatable or sympathetic. Aided by minimalist, disconcerting music from Joseph Bishara and drab, spooky cinematography by Ben Mullen, the film fosters a palpable sense of unease. The ensemble cast, including standout Jim Parsons as a loyal lieutenant alongside Grace Caroline Currey and Simon Rex as new recruits, effectively portrays the followers' willing surrender to blind obedience. Building to a riveting third act where the screen tightens to a constricting boxy frame, The Leader forces audiences into the grim inevitability and terrible gravitational pull of this deadly cult.
Legislative & LegalCourthouse News: 10th Circuit revives Mormon Church's fight with insurers over sex abuse settlements
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints wants insurance to pay for civil settlements related to sexual abuses committed by the son of a prominent church family.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a lawsuit brought by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) seeking reimbursement from two insurance companies for costs tied to sexual abuse settlements. The case stems from the abuse of several children in West Virginia between 2007 and 2011 by Michael Jensen, the son of a prominent church family. His victims alleged the church failed to protect them, leading to a 2018 civil settlement.
A lower court in Salt Lake City previously sided with the insurers, National Union Fire Insurance Co. and ACE Property and Casualty. The trial judge determined that each settlement constituted a separate "occurrence" under the policies, meaning none individually met the financial threshold to trigger coverage.
However, a three-judge appellate panel unanimously reversed this decision. The 10th Circuit ruled that the insurance policies' definition of an "occurrence" is legally ambiguous. Applying Utah law, the court found it plausible to interpret the church's alleged ongoing failure to implement reasonable safety precautions as a single, continuous occurrence. By grouping the claims together, the total settlement amount could be large enough to trigger coverage. The case has been remanded to the lower court for further proceedings.
Ongoing Focus
Favs News: Cult survivor to share warning signs of coercive control at Moscow event
Meliesa Tigard, a survivor of the high-control "Two by Two" religious sect, is set to speak at a free public event in Moscow, Idaho, to educate the community on the warning signs of coercive control. Having spent half her life in a cult that dictated her behavior and thoughts, Tigard now uses her expertise to expose the manipulative "architecture" of spiritual abuse, specifically theology that rebrands questioning as a sin and obedience as holiness.
During her presentation, Tigard will focus on "pre-bunking"—arming individuals with the tools to recognize manipulation before it takes root. She draws parallels between the authoritarian preaching of her past and the rhetoric of local prominent religious figures, such as Doug Wilson, leader of Christ Church in Moscow. Tigard warns against "dominionism," a movement that seeks to impose a narrow, inflexible theology on civic life.
While Wilson publicly denies using coercion, local critics like Rev. Hannah Brown argue that his fundamentalist doctrines inherently breed control, particularly by demanding female submission and removing women's individual choices. Brown encourages community members to attend Tigard's talk to better identify creeping dominionism and foster a community that values open dialogue and freedom from spiritual manipulation.
News, Education, Intervention, Recovery
Intervention101.com helps families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.
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