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Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult

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Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult
GenreDocumentary
Written by
Directed byCecilia Peck
Music byDaniel Lessner
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers
CinematographyArlene Nelson
Editors
  • Caitlin Dixon
  • Inbal B. Lessner
  • Matthew Moul
  • Gillian McCarthy
  • Christy Denes
  • Chris A. Peterson
  • Alex Jablonski
Running time54-80 minutes
Production company
Original release
NetworkStarz
ReleaseOctober 18 (2020-10-18) –
November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)

Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult is an American true crime documentary television miniseries revolving around the cult NXIVM and its leader Keith Raniere, with a focus on the perspective of India Oxenberg, who was an executive producer on the series. It consists of four episodes and premiered on October 18, 2020, on Starz.[1]

Premise

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Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult follows India Oxenberg as she grapples to make sense of her experience within NXIVM, a self-help organization which turned out to be a cult, examining her own culpability and abuse brought on to her by its leader, Keith Raniere, and rebuilds her relationship with her mother, Catherine Oxenberg who desperately fought to rescue her daughter. Naomi Gibson, Debora Giannone, Kelly Thiel, Tabby Chapman, Ashley McClean, and Ana Cecilia, also appear in the series sharing their stories and experiences in the organization.[2][3]

The series features interviews with cult experts Janja Lalich, Steve Hassan and Rick Alan Ross,[4][5][6] Cult therapist and deprogrammers Rachel Bernstein and Christine Marie Katas,[7][8] Lawyers and prosecutors for NXIVM including Neil Glazer, Moira Kim Penza, Anne Champion, and Marc Agnifilo,[9] and journalist Jaclyn Cangro.[10]

Episodes

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No.Title [11]Directed byOriginal air date [11]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Hooked"Cecilia PeckOctober 18, 2020 (2020-10-18)0.121[12]
2"Indoctrinated"Cecilia PeckOctober 25, 2020 (2020-10-25)0.166[13]
3"Enslaved"Cecilia PeckNovember 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)0.112[14]
4"Exposed"Cecilia PeckNovember 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)0.176[15]

Production

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India Oxenberg was a former member of NXIVM, a self-help organization located in Albany, New York, run by Keith Raniere, which Oxenberg exited in 2018. Oxenberg initially turned down media requests, but after attending therapy, Oxenberg felt she had to speak out and share her story.[16] Oxenberg met with filmmakers Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner, who were also recruited by NXIVM, and decided to participate in the project.[17] Oxenberg previously decided not to participate in The Vow as she was not ready to share her story, and did not see the project as a competition, nor did Peck and Lessner.[18][19]

Peck was targeted for recruitment by a coworker from a previous project, who sent her e-mails informing her of an "incredible women's group" and suggested she meet with Allison Mack. Peck never responded to the e-mails, and a year later received an apology from the recruiter stating: "I’m so sorry. I was in a cult and I didn’t know it."[19] Due to the sensitive subject matter, a fund was created for participants to have access to counseling and therapy services before, during, and after filming.[20]

In 2021, Marc Elliot sued Starz and Lion's Gate for $12 million, claiming that the show libelled and defamed him.[21] The lawsuit was dismissed in November 2022.

Reception

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Critical reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 100% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "With compelling firsthand accounts and plenty of expert insights, Seduced is harrowing account of the startling ease with which a cult can consume a person's life."[22]

Ratings

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Viewership and ratings per episode of Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Hooked" October 18, 2020 0.01 0.121[12] TBD TBD TBD TBD
2 "Indoctrinated" October 25, 2020 0.03 0.166[13] TBD TBD TBD TBD
3 "Enslaved" November 1, 2020 0.02 0.112[14] TBD TBD TBD TBD
4 "Exposed" November 8, 2020 0.03 0.176[15] TBD TBD TBD TBD

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominees Result Ref.
2021 American Cinema Editors Best Edited Documentary - Non-Theatrical Inbal B. Lessner, Alex Jablonski, Gillian McCarthy, Matthew Moul and Chris A. Peterson Nominated [23][24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pederson, Erik (October 13, 2020). "'Seduced: Inside The NXIVM Cult': Trailer & Premiere Date For Four-Part Starz Docuseries". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (October 13, 2020). "India Oxenberg Open Ups About NXIVM Experience in 'Seduced' Docuseries for Starz". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Miller, Julie (October 13, 2020). "India Oxenberg Opens Up About Her Family's NXIVM Nightmare: "It's Like Freaking Shakespeare"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Tuchinsky, Evan (October 15, 2020). "One nation under influence". Chico News & Review. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Tron, Gina (October 22, 2020). "Who Is Rick Ross, The Cult Expert That NXIVM Spent Millions Suing And Allegedly Surveilling?". Oxygen. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult". Starz. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "Rachel Bernstein". Seduced. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Dr. Christine Marie Katas". Seduced. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Neil Glazer". Seduced. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  10. ^ Cangro, Jaclyn (October 19, 2020). "Docu-Series Asks Question: "Why Did People Join a Cult in Clifton Park?"". Spectrum News. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Starz Schedule" (PDF). Starz. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (October 20, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.18.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (October 27, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.25.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (November 3, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.1.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (November 10, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.8.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  16. ^ McNeil, Liz (October 13, 2020). "Catherine Oxenberg's Daughter India Recalls Harrowing Moment She Was Branded in Nxivm Sex Cult". People. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Lambe, Stacy (October 13, 2020). "Why India Oxenberg Is Finally Speaking Out About NXIVM, Allison Mack (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  18. ^ "India Oxenberg on Why She Didn't Do 'The Vow' and Reclaiming Her Story in 'Seduced' (EXCLUSIVE)". Entertainment Tonight. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Lopez, Kristen (October 29, 2020). "'Seduced' Showrunners Don't Want to Compete with HBO's 'The Vow'". IndieWire. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  20. ^ Ihant, Gwen (November 8, 2020). "The creators of Seduced explain what was uniquely dangerous about the NXIVM cult". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  21. ^ Gavin, Robert (20 October 2012). "NXIVM loyalist files $12 million suit against Starz network". Times Union.
  22. ^ "Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  23. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (March 11, 2021). "'Minari,' 'Trial of the Chicago 7′ Among American Cinema Editors' Eddie Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 17, 2021). "ACE Eddie Awards: 'Trial Of The Chicago 7', 'Palm Springs', 'Soul' Top Film Winners; 'Ted Lasso', 'Queen's Gambit' Score In TV – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
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