Main content
This programme is not currently available on 大象传媒 iPlayer

The Cult Next Door

The extraordinary story of a strange cult, which came to light in 2013 when news broke about three women emerging from a small flat in south London after decades in captivity.

This documentary by acclaimed director Vanessa Engle tells the extraordinary story of a strange cult, which came to light in 2013 when a sensational news story broke about three women emerging from a small flat in Brixton in south London after decades in captivity. Tracing the group back to its roots in the 1970s, the film describes how its leader Aravindan Balakrishnan, a student of Indian origin, believed in an international communist revolution and created a tiny political sect that followed the teachings of China's Chairman Mao.

The film features exclusive interviews with two of the women who escaped - Aisha Wahab, a 72-year-old Malaysian woman who was part of Balakrishnan's group for 40 years, and Katy Morgan-Davies, Balakrishnan's daughter, who was born and raised in captivity. The film documents how this left-wing collective evolved into a bizarre pseudo-religious cult, where members were controlled, threatened and brainwashed so that they were too terrified to leave.

58 minutes

Last on

Tue 23 Apr 2024 01:40
大象传媒 Four

Clips

See all clips from The Cult Next Door (3)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:13

    Fern Kinney

    Together We Are Beautiful

  • 00:18

    Citizen Cope

    D'Artagnan's Theme

  • 00:21

    The Clash

    The Magnificent Seven

  • 00:24

    MARINA

    Immortal

  • 00:27

    J贸hann J贸hannsson

    Melodia (II)

  • 00:40

    Christoph Schwarz

    Das Richtschwert Des Henkers, Teil 7

  • 00:43

    ABBA

    I Have A Dream

  • 00:54

    Dorian Hunter

    Die Teufelsinsel - Teil 04

  • 00:57

    Aphex Twin

    Nanou 2

Credits

Director Vanessa Engle
Producer Vanessa Engle
Executive Producer Peter Dale

Broadcasts