Escaping Utopia

Garrett

Aug 9, 2025 — 2 min read

Synopsis

This is a documentary about a religious cult in New Zealand that is run by a litany of sexual predators. The place they created has an environment that is impossible to leave.

Review

I randomly came across a social media short of some type, that was the best documentaries online, this was one of them. I am so glad it was.

So the documentary follows a group of former members that are trying to bring people who want to leave out. They are also bringing court cases against the group for crimes against children, wage theft, and other things.

The organization is very much a rag tag group. The issue is that there are so many conflicting stories from those that have left vs. those that are still in. The women who were born in this religious organization have been convinced what they see, what they have been part of, is normal. This is the most disheartening thing about this story. The level of abuse is crazy and the fact that they are attempting to justify it on a religious level is beyond reprehensible.

My Rating

It is hard to give ratings for documentaries. They are intentionally one sided, intentionally effective in pulling heart strings, and by there onset, have a point of view that you have to side with. All of that said, I think they do a fair job of leading you to the water, but not throwing you in. I also think that in general, we can all see the debasement of these people and that should never be allowed. I am giving this an 8.

Parental Rating

I am not sure how my parents will take this. They believe very strongly about the story of the Bible, but they would see this as an abomination to their faith, which it is. So between that and the outright sexual slavery and pedophilia, they would be disgusted. Which I am as well. However, they know nothing about this and it might be interesting. I honestly think they wouldn't want to hear their faith desecrated. Rejected by both.