Three Things To Binge Next If You Like 'Wild Wild Country'

A few more projects about cults that are just as good.

“Wild Wild Country” is a show about a cult, American history, disaster and the ineffable existential call to finding a higher purpose. It’s informative yet entertaining; high-minded but salacious. For a Netflix subscriber, it’s very much a binge.

Stories about cults seem to have a strange hold on audiences. Although you’re supposed to go into projects of this nature knowing that joining the cult was a bad idea, stories like “Wild Wild Country” often still make a point of showing you the cult leaders’ best ideas and charms.

While borderline making fun of the idiots who joined something so obviously ridiculous, the show can simultaneously allow a viewer to empathize with the cult’s appealing qualities. You’re led to wonder whether those who followed the call were actually onto something. “Wild Wild Country” plays with this balance masterfully.

At times, with the way the material is presented in this Netflix project, you’re intended to think: Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had some good ideas. And that thought feels dangerous, but also exciting ― that maybe this cult did find a higher purpose and maybe even unlocked the true meaning of life. Of course, they didn’t. But you keep watching.

“Wild Wild Country” is a relatively short binge watch. With only six episodes, many viewers have already reached the end. Perhaps you now want more.

If that’s the case, the list below offers a few suggestions of projects that have many of the same qualities and thrills of “Wild Wild Country.” The list includes a podcast, a documentary and a movie. The list goes in order of most similar to “Wild Wild Country” (the podcast), to a project that’s still related as it focuses on the rise of a cult, but is also fully its own thing (the movie).

Watch the trailers below. Don’t get convinced to join a cult. And if you want to stay informed on other Netflix-related streaming suggestions on a weekly basis, make sure to subscribe to the Streamline newsletter.

"Wild Wild Country" on Netflix.
"Wild Wild Country" on Netflix.
Netflix
Ji Sub Jeong/HP

This is part of Streamline, HuffPost’s weekly recommendation service for streaming shows and movies. Every Saturday, Streamline ranks the best shows to watch online, including a specific focus on Netflix.

"Heaven's Gate"
Podcast

Premise: A gossipy yet informed and empathetic look into the rise of a new American religion based heavily on science fiction -- Heaven's Gate. he members of this cult eventually killed themselves. The host of the show also grew up in a cult and thus offers a unique perspective.

Runtime: 10 episodes of approx. 50 minutes.





Here's the trailer.
"Going Clear"
Documentary

Premise: This is meant to be a flashlight into a darkness reportedly happening in America right now. Reportedly, the Church of Scientology is covering up various unethical practices happening within their secretive walls. The documentary also goes into the larger history of this religion's rise.

Runtime: 1 hour, 59 minutes.





Here's the trailer.
"The Master"
Movie

Premise: A man messed up by war and genetics joins a cult that's just starting to become powerful and broadly influential. Through his relationship to this cult, you see the various problems the cult's leaders have to deal with in trying to expand the base for their ideas.

Runtime: 2 hours, 18 minutes.





Here's the trailer.

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