Cult 

Tracks the investigation of a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances surrounding the show-within-a-show.

Creator:

Rockne S. O'Bannon

Stars:

Matthew Davis, Jessica Lucas, Alona Tal

Cast

Series cast summary:
Matthew Davis	...	Jeff Sefton 13 episodes, 2013
Jessica Lucas	...	Skye Yarrow 13 episodes, 2013
Alona Tal	...	Kelly Collins / ... 13 episodes, 2013
Robert Knepper	...	Billy Grimm / ... 13 episodes, 2013
Marie Avgeropoulos	...	Kirstie Nelson / ... 10 episodes, 2013
Jeffrey Pierce	...	Stuart Reynolds 8 episodes, 2013
Kadeem Hardison	...	Paz 8 episodes, 2013
James Pizzinato	...	Nate Sefton 8 episodes, 2013
Christian Michael Cooper	...	Andy 8 episodes, 2013
Shauna Johannesen	...	Meadow 8 episodes, 2013
Aisha Hinds	...	Det. Roslyn Sakelik 7 episodes, 2013
Tamara Ballard	...	Nurse Sae 7 episodes, 2013
Benjamin Hollingsworth	...	Peter Grey 6 episodes, 2013
Stacey Farber	...	E.J. 6 episodes, 2013
Eric Lange	...	Cameron / ... 6 episodes, 2013

Storyline

Tracks the investigation of a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances surrounding the show-within-a-show.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

A szekta

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rockne S. O'Bannon Television, Fake Empire, CBS Television Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cancelled during the first season after airing a mere 14 episodes.

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Quotes

Meadow: Well, hey! These things just snap right off!

User Reviews

Too much, too soon, too long

"Cult" started out with a very interesting, if not completely workable, premise: the blending of the "reality" of a TV show affecting the "reality" of the universe in which that show was being filmed and broadcast. There were even hints of the "reality" of the universe in which the show (also named "Cult") affecting our actual reality in which we were watching the show "Cult". A complex, mind-bending concept and quite interesting.

Unfortunately, somewhat like "The Event" or "Flash Forward", it suffers from a couple of problems that make it virtually impossible to shape a successful series from the concept.

Compare this show's structure to something like "Supernatural" or "Doctor Who". Both have a season long story arc, like many series, but are careful to keep the arc simple (such as stop the end of the world/universe by accomplishing these specific tasks) and then feeding in the accomplishment of those required actions throughout the season. The rest of the time they are able to focus on "monster of the week" or "one off" stories, which allows a viewer the luxury of missing an episode and not feeling completely lost when they return.

"The Event", "Flash Forward" and "Cult" have a single overriding mystery driving the entire concept, set in an environment that does not lend itself to smaller, "one off" mysteries within the overall concept. In the case of "Cult", it's a reporter trying to find his missing brother who somehow got involved in the cult of "Cult". He works on no other stories and is focused entirely on this one, very complex mystery. Which means that if you miss a single episode you are completely lost, emotionally if not merely for information.

And in order to pick up the thread once more, you have to go back to the missed episode to catch up. Sometimes you have to go back a number of episodes and review them to catch the clues that will explain a later part of the series.

And in the case of a generally humor deprived universe (as in "Cult"), with little in the way of sub-plot (as in "Cult"), where the entire focus is a relentless pursuit of the mystery, there's very little but the mystery to keep you interested.

And then it isn't entertainment, it's kind of like work.

So for every viewer who misses an episode, they may very likely decide it's just not worth it to go back, that there isn't enough in each individual show to draw them back in.

That isn't to criticize the quality of the work or the premise itself. It isn't to judge the production in any way. It's just that the story structure isn't suitable to a long running series.

But for some reason producers aren't quite getting that. This should have been a mini-series, not an open ended on-going series. With a fully developed thirteen episode story it might have been brilliant. But having to keep it open ended (so there's more story to shoot episodes of once you get done with all the ones you've planned already), there just isn't enough to hold an audience.

Perhaps that's why certain universes, (hospitals, police or detectives, legal, financial and so on) make for more successful long running TV series. They contain the logical limitless range of "one off" stories that are virtually self-contained and can keep the viewer interested.

"Cult", alas, does not.