Prophet’s Prey
Studio: Showtime
Directed by Amy Berg
Sep 15, 2015
Web Exclusive
Amy Berg (whose first narrative feature, Every Secret Thing debuted earlier this year) returns to her more familiar documentary form with Prophet’s Prey, a chilling and highly disturbing account of rampant child sexual abuse within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Berg targets her focus quite justly on Warren Jeffs, leader of the Mormon sub-sect. Jeffs took over the church upon his father’s death and presides over ten thousand unquestioningly loyal members of the FLDS. The unflinching support and adoration he receives as shepherd to the flock helps mask the vile behavior Jeffs partakes in as part of his religious right. The FLDS is one of the few U.S.-based churches that practice polygamy, a belief which Jeffs takes horrific advantage of, marrying at least 63 women and girls. The youngest is only 12-years-old when Jeffs consummates their union.
Much like HBO’s Going Clear exposé on Scientology that also premiered this year, Prophet’s Prey digs deep into the demons lurking within a hotly contentious church that exists outside of mainstream American religion. Also as in that case, the parishioners live a life of such obedient subservience, they don’t question what they’re told to do in order to achieve purity. Jeffs seems to have no reservations about telling his working class worshippers to give everything they earn to the church; given how closely tied Jeffs is with the institution—he is the embodiment of the church—it’s little question where the money really goes. It is this blindly-guided attitude that allows Jeffs to perpetrate such horrors unabated for so long. As husband and prophet, Jeffs is an indomitable force to his wives, able to brew a culture of silence and ignorance, if not in some cases even acceptance surrounding his crimes. He routinely uses his office in the church school—the only school children of FLDS families attend—as a setting for which to violate unsuspecting and traumatized youths. Jeffs’ repeated pedophiliac rape (and other crimes) eventually lands him on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
Berg’s films consistently examine instances of child abuse, often in massive institutions. Deliver Us from Evil explored Catholic cover-ups of abuse within that church; An Open Secret tackled a similar issue with the film industry. Prophet’s Prey features no less disgusting subject matter—it is a devastating delve into a marginalized denomination led by a manipulative pedophile. How such institutions continue to operate in this day and age is simply beyond comprehension.
Author rating: 6/10
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