A look at the experiences of the members of the NXIVM, an organization and sex cult who made headlines for being charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
While the description of the cult may make this series sound titillating, it's actually very sad to hear the stories of vulnerable people who were manipulated. You may find it hard to stick with all six episodes.
This series, in its methodical nature, attempts to restage Edmondson's own coming into consciousness, and that it largely succeeds is an impressive feat of bearing witness.
No one ever thinks they'll become the victim of a cult, but The Vow reveals just how easily it can be done when someone knows how to do it, and that is almost as horrifying as anything else depicted in the documentary, which is saying a lot.
The amazing access to personal stories as they unfolded likely led directors Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer to err on the side of inclusion, but the repetitive, unedited nature of the series actually diminishes its intended impact.
