Summary
Netflix's How to Become a Cult Leader takes a satirical approach to notorious cult leaders, exploring their rise to power and influence.
The show utilizes Peter Dinklage's narration to skillfully combine pathos and humor as it delves into the sinister pasts of cult leaders and their manipulation of their devotees. Serving as a spiritual continuation of How to Become a Tyrant, How to Become a Cult Leader shifts its focus to personal acts of horror rather than political contexts, presenting an unsettling portrayal of megalomania.
The Netflix documentary How to Become a Cult Leader takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to exploring notorious cult leaders. Viewers of the series became curious about the identity of the show's sarcastic narrator. The docuseries How to Become a Cult Leader, available on Netflix, delves into the lives of well-known cult leaders like Charles Manson and Jim Jones. With its darkly satirical narration, the show presents itself as a guide to starting and maintaining a cult, examining how figures like Manson and Jones amassed followers and influence over time.
Taking a lighthearted perspective on such infamous and deadly individuals can be challenging for a docuseries. In a time when Netflix's true-crime documentaries have faced criticism for their treatment of sensitive subjects, the wry narration of How to Become a Cult Leader teeters on the edge of ridiculing the real-life victims of these cults. Therefore, the series required a narrator who could infuse the stories with both seriousness and dark humor. Fortunately, How to Become a Cult Leader discovered the perfect candidate among the experienced narrators, whose voice became one of the most recognizable on television during the 2010s.
Peter Dinklage Narrates Netflix's How To Become A Cult Leader
Narrated by Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage, How to Become a Cult Leader is a captivating docuseries on Netflix. It delves into the lives of dangerously influential cult leaders throughout history, with Dinklage's narration adding a touch of sardonic humor. Each episode explores the dark histories of real cult leaders, uncovers the qualities necessary to become one, and reveals how these figures maintained control over their followers. While Dinklage's narration is a standout feature, the series offers much more. Interviews with cult members and experts provide valuable insights, while archival footage and animated interludes add depth and lighten the show's tone. With his ability to skillfully blend pathos and humor, Dinklage is the perfect choice as the show's narrator, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
How To Become A Cult Leader Is Netflix's Follow-Up To Another Peter Dinklage-Narrated Docuseries
Peter Dinklage also provided narration for the preceding series, How to Become a Tyrant, in 2021. While the Netflix show explored political leaders throughout recent history, How to Become a Cult Leader focuses on the specific threat of cult leadership. However, How to Become a Cult Leader is the spiritual successor to How to Become a Tyrant, as both shows examine brutal historical figures who gained notorious followings but in different ways.
Unlike tyrants who are driven by political motivation and acquire immense power, cult leaders typically have a much smaller influence. This distinction gives How to Become a Cult Leader a distinct tone compared to its predecessor, as the series delves into individual acts of atrocity rather than significant moments in political history. Nevertheless, both How to Become a Tyrant and How to Become a Cult Leader present a chilling portrayal of the bloody history of megalomania, with Peter Dinklage's narration guiding viewers through these grim true stories.