5. Prophet’s Prey, directed by
Amy J. Berg

Lock Up Your Daughters And Wives (All Of Them…)

In Prophet’s Prey

 

The most affecting stories are often the ones that are true. It’s rare that you’re summoned into a highly secretive cult and in this case, thank the Lord, it’s only through J. Berg’s documentary Prophet’s Prey. The movie is a riveting exposé on the corruption, exploitation and cult-like environment of the Fundamentalist Church of the Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a religion tracing back to the 1800s.

Most of the time, when you look at mug shots of murderers or psychopaths or paedophiles, there’s nothing that really separates them from your lovely, chirpy next-door neighbour. But sometimes, just sometimes, when you see a mug shot of a criminal, a shiver runs down your spine. Every time I see Warren Jeffs, with his cold, expressionless eyes, I get this feeling. There’s a sense that something just isn’t right. Once ranking second on the FBI’s Top Ten most wanted list, Jeffs is the self-proclaimed Prophet of God and leader of the FLDS.

We are taken deep into the warren of the Latter Day Saints, with shadowy interviews, archival material and secretive filming in the cult-land. During these forays into the network, members of the Church respond aggressively by stalking in cars and revealing the deep-rooted corruption that sustains them. Marshals take turns threatening the filmmakers, and it instantly becomes clear that fear is power in a world of manipulation and control.

Essentially, religion is used as a guise to get away with atrocities such as forced slave labour, tax fraud, rape, abuse and paedophilia. In the process, families are ripped apart, as is the very fabric of human nature, with parents choosing religion over children or friends, and children in turn choosing religion over parents; we are even given insight into how this happens, as we’re shown an environment that forces complete loyalty and fear. It speaks of the disturbing fault in human nature that, once you’re brought up with something, it’s almost impossible to give it up. Here, the religion and its ingrained culture is indoctrinated from birth, and it is generations-deep. It may seem mind-boggling to us outsiders that the members remain in their community, but imagine removing yourself from everything you’ve ever known, ever seen and everything you’ve ever been raised with.

The Church takes everything to the extreme: rather than threatening you personally, they threaten your loved ones. Polygamy is practised, but some of the wives are as young as twelve. A moment that forced me to tears was when Brent Jeffs, nephew of Warren Jeffs and abuse victim, describes his former life in the religious cult: “I remember seeing kids being pulled into his office constantly and the door being closed… and them coming out with this look on their face… the look of your soul being ripped out of your body…”

The documentary is pretty plain in uncovering the secrets of the Church, and presenting the stark facts. Jeff’s has such a creepy, soft and sibilant voice, heard here in voiceovers where he delivers sermons or speaks in interviews. His slow rhythm is hypnotic and infuses the whole documentary with a sinister mood. The most chilling aspect of the film, however, is the fact that Jeffs was arrested years before the documentary was even made, and yet the religion continues. Despite his incarceration and his confessions, cult members continue to believe that he is the Prophet. Our human capacity for self-delusion is too strong. The cult remains, and women and children carry on being abused.

Suffice it to say, if you were enraged by Spotlight and fascinated by Big Love, then this documentary should be next on your list.