Prophet's Prey

Prophet's Prey is a gripping, intense, and unnerving documentary film, which plunged into the secretive and destructive world of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), released in 2015. Directed by Amy Berg, an Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker, and based on a book penned by Sam Brower, a private investigator, the movie integrates comprehensive research and exclusive interviews to shed light on some disturbing realities of this extremist religious organization.

American musician and author Nick Cave provides the film’s unforgettably atmospheric score, augmenting the eerie dynamics presented through the narrative. The film also stars Elaine Anderson, a journalist and author who has confronted controversial subjects in her work, including religious extremism. Participating is Sam Brower himself, who, through his persistent probing into the FLDS, offers a rich, firsthand perspective on the church's activities.

A key figure in Prophet's Prey is the FLDS's infamous and enigmatic leader, Warren Jeffs. Powerfully, the documentary illustrates his ascension to power after the death of his father, creating an iron grip on the FLDS community. The film paints a picture of Jeffs's reign, from controlling the smallest details of his followers' personal lives to a system of oppressive indoctrination, his influence extends far beyond what one would conventionally understand a religious leader's role to be.

The FLDS, a radical offshoot of the Mormon Church, is notorious for its practice of polygamy, and the film explores how Jeffs personally used this doctrine to exploit and manipulate his followers. Prophet's Prey underscores the spotlights on the severe human rights violations suffered by the women and children in the community, including forced marriages, child brides, and systemic sexual abuse.

Narrative threads in Prophet's Prey include detailed accounts from former FLDS members who risked everything to escape this highly closed-off community. Their harrowing accounts provide first-hand evidence of their suffocating lives under Jeffs's control and their daring efforts to escape. With a narrative both haunting and resonant in the insistence on revealing the truth, Prophet's Prey examines the insidious ways cult-like groups can wield power, control, and fear to maintain their stranglehold on their followers.

The private investigator turned author, Sam Brower, is a notable figure through the course of the movie. His relentless pursuit to showcase Jeffs's reign of terror significantly anchors the movie. Brower's years of investigation into the FLDS and his commitment to bringing Warren Jeffs to justice are examined to great effect in Prophet's Prey. His inquiries, outsider status, and tireless efforts offer a unique viewpoint into the inner workings of the sect, making his insight indispensable for Amy Berg and her crew.

One of the striking elements of Prophet's Prey is its dogged insistence on delivering justice. Through her cinematic investigation, Berg walks in Brower's investigative footsteps, highlighting the lengths to which they'd go to expose the truth; from pursuing legal avenues, navigating bureaucratic red tape, to uncovering hidden and lost testimonies.

Prophet's Prey is not just a portrait of a notorious figure and his tyrannical rule over a religious community. Instead, it stretches further, investigating the power structures that allow such leaders to profligate and continue without responsibility or consequence. The documentary becomes a study in the consequences of unchecked authority and the terrifying power of indoctrination.

In conclusion, Prophet's Prey is a chilling exploration of abuse, manipulation, and control in the name of religious extremism. It is a powerful reflection on human rights, justice, and the heart-rending endurance of those who seek freedom from oppression. With its investigative angle, extensive research, and exclusive interviews, it offers a profound insight into a world that often remains darkened to outsiders. It is a documentary that boldly dares to expose the raw, chilling truths of a hidden society.