Fans of true crime documentaries: we've got a new recommendation for you, but it's not for the faint of heart. Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult is Netflix's latest documentary looking at the story of a young dancer who joined a management company, 7M, that turned out to also be a church and – reportedly – a cult, and the devastating consequences.
After she disappeared from her family's life, they've gone public with their story and grief. It's a lot, but definitely a great insight into human nature and why we are susceptible to cult groups.
Here's everything we know so far about the three-part documentary Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.
The hack exposed details of approximately 37 million users.
What is Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult about?
IMDB's synopsis reads: “TikTok dancers join a management firm tied to a church, uncovering disturbing truths about the founders' sinister agenda.”
The documentary stems from the story of Miranda Wilking, whose quest to become a dancer led her to a management company that also turned out to be a church. After she cut off contact with her family, her sister and parents looked into what was happening behind the scenes and now believe that the organisation she became involved with, 7M, was and remains a cult.
It delves into the story of 7M's boss Robert Shinn, who is pastor at the Shekinah Church, and the complaints both former employees and church members have made about his controlling behaviour, and what that might mean for people who have signed up to what they thought was just a management agency that will help their dreams come true.
We get to know Miranda's sister Melanie and her parents Kelly and Dean, as they recount publically calling 7M a cult in 2022, and their suspicions that Miranda was being exploited and manipulated. It's an emotional watch, seeing what Miranda's disappearance has done to her family, as well as the haunting reality of what cults can do in terms of isolating its members.
In the trailer for the documentary, the family describe being “blocked on absolutely everything” and now “aren't allowed to contact” her.
The series also includes stories from previous members of 7M, including dancers who joined in the hopes of its talent management element making them a success. Others are working to take the group and Shinn down “from the outside”.
“This series is about exposing the wrongdoers and setting the story straight,” the documentary's executive producer Jessica Acevedo told Netflix, “all with the hope of helping those still under the control of the church.” A docuseries about 7M from HBO was announced back in 2022, but hasn't surfaced yet, so the team behind Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult are happy to shine a light on the story of the church and the impact it has had on survivors lives.
The documentary's director Derek Doneen has also spoken out on how Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult sheds light on the impact of cult behaviour and involvement, and how easy it can be to be “sucked in”.
“I think audiences will be surprised by how easily regular people can get sucked into cult-like groups and how devastating the impact can be on families, friends, and communities,” he told Netflix. “I’m in awe of the families who let us in as they worked tirelessly to rescue their loved ones.”
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult release date
The documentary will drop on Netflix on 29 May.
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult trailer
The trailer has dropped, and it's a lot. Watch below:
Netflix's new series examines disturbing allegations against the 7M founder and Shekinah Church pastor.
