I’ve always had a fascination with taboo subjects, like UFOs, the occult, and cults. I remember growing up and collecting magazines about UFO sightings and the Mothman. But cults featured less prominently because I grew up in Paraguay, a country that’s extremely right-winged and religious to the point where cults are more accepted than atheism. So when a new miniseries called Doomsday was announced, I really wanted to check it out. I had just finished my revisit of the wonderfully put-together podcast surrounding Heaven’s Gate, so I thought it was the perfect time for a Doomsday review.
The Premise
Doomsday follows Yesterday’s Promise, an end-of-days matriarchal cult lead by Dagny (played by a mesmerizing Karin Agstam), and the final months leading up to a Jonestown-like massacre. Devotion to Dagny is imperative, but not everyone is fully under her spell.
I found Dagny to be hypnotizing. Had it not been for Karin Agstam occasional grounding of her character, Dagny would have seemed cartoonish. Instead, we get a cult leader fully aware of her deceptions, her shortcomings and what needs to be done for the cult to be sustained.
The story is told in non-linear fashion, with jumps to past and present that, at times, feel jarring. But aside from that, the technical execution of the premise delivers in spades.
The Delivery
Creator and star’s Sonja O’Hara own personal experience with secluded religious entities (having been cast for a Scientology recruitment video herself) lends credibility to her character and her delivery. Alice Kremelberg’s Sorrel and Ellen Toland’s Annie are further standouts in the acting department, with some truly memorable scenes. Sorrel, a disillusioned follower, and Annie, a devotee to her last breath, often perform a conflicting dance against one another that really captures the essence of the cult experience.
Sadly, not all performances are as great. Mark St. Cyr’s John isn’t as convincing as an undercover law enforcement agent. His on-screen presence that could have, and should have, been much greater considering the character’s role in the story.
Going back to what worked, however, the visuals are absolutely beautiful, with a strong Ari Aster vibe that just works. The aesthetic presentation of Doomsday fully backs the idea of the cult and what Dagny wishes to sell.
Doomsday Review – The Verdict
I enjoyed Doomsday. For people like myself who enjoy delving into the subject matter, there are few better series made in the past couple of years about cults. But it falls short in a number of areas, including less-than-stellar performance from key characters, and pacing that can sometimes feel sluggish.
No Doomsday review would be complete without saying that yes, there is sex in here, too. However, it was done tastefully, in a manner that is representative of experiences one hears from testimonials of former cult members. I appreciated the fact that this was not exploitative, but rather done in a way which supported the premise and felt coherent.
If you’re into cults and taboo subjects, definitely give Doomsday a look: Watch Doomsday | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Leave a Reply