(2024 Lifetime)
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Subscribe to the Lifetime Movie Club
Cast: Emily Tennant, Greyston Holt, Andrew Francis, Natalie Sharp
Director: Paula Elle
Writer(s): Jon Gilbert
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Now
🍷 Support the show with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
Accused: The Karen Read Story, Katie Cassidy, and Turtleboy? – Lifetime Uncorked
- Accused: The Karen Read Story, Katie Cassidy, and Turtleboy?
- It's A Wonderful Lifetime Preview, Brandy Norwood, Vivica A. Fox, and Airplane Movies?
- If I Run Lifetime Movie, Kat Graham, and Prayer Requests?
- Ice Road Killer Lifetime Movie, Christmas Thrillers, and Truckers
- You Better Watch Out, Christmas in July, and Bramblefest?
- The Nanny Sees All 2025 Lifetime Movie, Child Actor of the Year, and Golden Madison?
- I'm Your Biggest Fan Lifetime Movie, Hailey Duff Directs, and Beverley Mitchell?
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Inspired by true events. When her sister Nina is seduced by a mysterious self-improvement cult, Anna decides to go undercover at the cult’s annual retreat to save her sister from the sinister cult leader.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie starts on a college campus with a co-ed, Ginny, who wears a terrible wig. Her sister, Nina, goes missing and ends up in a cult called Pathways. (It is very similar to Scientology, which is not a cult! Don’t come after me, Scientologists.)
Anna infiltrates the cult with the help of her friend and maybe boyfriend Victor after a long three-month planning stage. Anna trauma with second in command Kelly, with a staged attack where Victor attempts to steal her purse. The trick works, and Anna gets a free bump to the next level and gets to the cult leader Ray by offering legal advice. Anna learns about a place called “the sanctuary” and thinks her sister might be kept there.
After the retreat, the cult people in training are invited to an initiation in the woods, where they are tied to a tree and “sensory overloaded” with bright lights and sounds. (It seems pretty tame, TBH!) Anna is in, and she has to turn over all her bank information and future earnings to the cause.
At the sanctuary (Which is actually pretty nice!), Ray isn’t the head honcho. There is another cult leader, Trask. (Played by perpetual teenager Andrew Francis, promoted to cult leader.) He makes the recruits eat in silence, which makes things more akward when Anna sees her sister, Nina!!!!!
Nina freaks out and privately tells Anna to leave. Ginny/Anna doubles down and tells her sister she lied, cheated, and survived a sensory overload to be there to check on her. To prove to her sister that she is in it for the long haul, Anna sits in the circle while the other recruits insult her.
1) They tell her she is stuck up and thinks she is better than everyone. (True!)
2) Paelo tells her hairstyle sucks (True!)
3) She can’t be trusted. (Also, true! Should II join this cult? I might be good at this part.)
An ex-member named Olivia has turned against the cult and has been speaking out. They brainstormed what to do about her, but none of the options seemed to be ethical or legal! Then Anna sees her sister giving Kelly a tattoo of Trask’s name. (With a really fancy tattoo gun!)
Nina sets up the yoga studio, and Anna tries to convince her sister to talk to Victor. When Nina doesn’t go for it, Anna goes into total sister gossip mode and starts talking about hot guys. (Is she me?) Eventually, Nina agrees to see Victor so her sister will avoid going to “the cage!” Ray almost catches the sisters sneaking out and warns Nina not to go behind his back.
Trask sets up a one-on-one meeting with Anna, and he uses typical cult leader tactics to try and take control of her mind. Anna is prepared mentally for his manipulation tactics. She resists his messages and questions about his family.
Victor is caught on the premises and sent to the cage! (Oh no! Not Victor!!!!!) It is a literal cage with weights on top. They play loud, shrill, shrieking sounds to disorient him. Paolo also infiltrates the system with Olivia and updates her on how things escalate at the sanctuary.
Trask is prepping for a doomsday event called the White Light and leaves with Ray to prep at Caleco, leaving Nina to deal with Paolo and Victor. (With a gun.) Trask is spiraling and losing control. Once he realizes who she is, he plays Nina’s recordings for Anna/Ginny. His emotional manipulation sends Anna into a breakdown.
Nina takes Paolo into the woods at gunpoint. (Does she kill him? I missed that.) Anna snaps out of her depression and plays a recording of Ray murdering Corrine. Kelly catches her and makes Nina go to the white light ceremony, where they all are going to Jonestown themselves. Kelly and Ray lock the followers in a room and plan to make a getaway to Mexico. They literally stab Trask in the back to make their getaway.
Anna and Ginny attack Kelly and wrestle her to the ground. As they fight, Nina revolts, busts out of the sanctuary, and ties Kelly up. Anna rushes to save Victor, who is still in the cage!
The police arrive and arrest the surviving cult leaders, including Nina. Victor and Ginny go home and start the deprogramming process with Nina.
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
This cult reminded me of an episode of Strangers With Candy soooo much.
Overall rating
Number of Kills: 🔪🔪🔪 (3? knives)
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷 (2 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it? Put a cork in it!
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked & @patrickmiguel.
Inquiries | podcast@lifetimeuncorked.com
🍾 Your Support is appreciated. Donate today to keep the website going! Thank you.
*Photo Credit: © 2024 A&E Television Networks, LLC
Definitely put a cork in it!!!
The lead actress is my birthday twin!