Lifetime has released the trailer for its upcoming TV movie, “Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter,” and it features chilling depictions of how women were coerced into sex slavery for NXIVM founder Keith Raniere.
Based on the memoir “Captive” by Catherine Oxenberg, whose daughter, India, became embroiled in the darkest aspects of the group, the movie focuses on “a mother who will stop at nothing to get her daughter back and exposes the intricate seductive power of Allison and Keith and the mental and physical abuse India fell victim to,” according to Lifetime.
Andrea Roth plays Oxenberg, with Peter Facinelli playing cult-leader Raniere, Jasper Polish as India, and Sara Fletcher as “Smallville” actress Alison Mack.
“This is much more than just top secret. This is about learning to reach your maximum potential,” Raniere (Facinelli) says in the trailer, which you can watch above.
Premiering September 21 at 8 p.m., the TV movie is part of Lifetime’s “Ripped From the Headlines” movie slate. Immediately following the feature at 10 p.m., Lifetime will air an accompanying documentary feature hosted by Gretchen Carlson called “Beyond the Headlines: Escaping the NXIVM Cult with Gretchen Carlson.”
In the documentary, Carlson will interview Oxenberg, “who shares with Carlson her personal fight to get her daughter out of the NXIVM cult,” according to Lifetime. Other interviews will include a cult de-programmer, as well as individuals “who tirelessly worked to expose and take down the NXIVM organization.”
NXIVM first captured attention from national media and Hollywood last year after charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy were brought against some of its highest-ranking members, most notably former “Smallville” star Allison Mack and Raniere himself.
“Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter” premieres Sept 21 at 8/7c on Lifetime.