Cult Girls

Set amidst the visually stunning backdrop of Lithuania and Australia, Cult Girls (director, producer, and writer Mark Bakaitis, 2019) unfolds a haunting and dark tale about the gritty world that lies beneath the surface of religious cults. Featuring powerful performances from Saara Lamberg, Jane Badler, and Dean Kirkright, the film is a visceral dive into religious fanaticism, occult symbolism, and the terrifying journey to rescue a loved one lost to zealotry.

Cult Girls tells the story of Dalia (Saara Lamberg), a woman whose sister and mother have succumbed to the influence of a deeply insidious and menacing cult that reveres pagan goddesses related to the cycle of death, rebirth, and fertility. Dalia, who has managed to escape the clutches of the cult, is seeking answers about her family's inexplicable behaviors and, at the same time, is on a personal quest to save them from an impending doom.

The memorable performance of Jane Badler as Ruth, the matriarch of the cult, is chilling. Ruth's savage hold over the cult is encompassing and deeply menacing, feeding according to the eeriness throughout the film. On the other side, the role of Aaron (Dean Kirkright), a sympathetic character who managed to escape Ruth's control but is tormented by the past, helps shine a light on the psychological trauma that such cult shenanigans cause.

Cult Girls is a psychological horror that explores, in disturbing depth, the controversial themes of religious extremism, manipulation, control, and the loss of self to the collective. The screenplay paints a chilling picture of the lengths to which individuals will go in their quest for esoteric enlightenment and the horrifying blurring of the line between devotion and obsession.

This film dives deep into tenebrous territories of folklore and mythology, plunging its viewers into a nightmarish landscape rich in unsettling iconography. Its unique blend of horror, thriller and drama makes it a less-traditional genre film, adding layers and substance to the story. The cinematography and production design are visually stunning, with grim atmospheres, eerie landscapes, and occult aesthetics adding to the creeping sense of dread and tension.

Cult Girls unfolds in a non-linear narrative, oscillating between past and present, between the haunted forests of Lithuania and the claustrophobic urban landscapes of Melbourne, Australia. The fragmented storytelling style is reminiscent of an allegoric jigsaw puzzle that the viewer must piece together, with each scene revealing a little more about the enigmatic and almost otherworldly cult, its beliefs, and practices. Cult Girls doesn’t serve up all the answers, instead, it invites the audience to knit together its narratively jigsaw pieces and rewards the patient viewers with an intensely forbidding tale.

Bakaitis' ability to merge the bleak reality of human frailties with uncanny elements of the supernatural is particularly notable. The soundtrack, courtesy of David Coennan, forms an effective partner to the film's ominous imagery, setting a haunting backdrop to the unwinding plot.

Ultimately, Cult Girls is a film that dares to explore the dangerous intersections of faith, ignorance, and manipulation, delivering a hauntingly memorable cinematic experience. Mark Bakaitis presents the viewers with an unflinching look into the sinister world of cults, from the inside out, while raising important questions about societal pressures, the human psyche, and personal freedom.

This is not a movie for the faint-hearted or for those seeking a typical, formulaic horror thriller. Its persistent tension and dream/nightmare-like veneer might leave viewers feeling uncomfortable. But for the adventurous viewer looking for an off-the-beaten-path film that is not afraid to raise difficult questions, Cult Girls is a movie not to be missed.