Dir. Skye Borgman | Now Streaming On: Netflix | Rating: 5/5

I’m typically not a true crime fan and haven’t reviewed a documentary on my blog officially yet, but Sins of Our Mother has sat on my brain for the last week. Like most horror fans, I’ve become desensitized to wild stuff on screen. There have only been a handful of movies that have truly frightened me in the last few years and Sins of Our Mother is one of them.

This three episode docuseries follows the story of Lori Vallow, a radical Christian who spirals into obsession with a doomsday cult. Despite this crime being recent, I went in with no knowledge on the case. This docuseries appeals to one of my favorite horror elements – the power of belief. We watch a woman truly believe with her whole heart that these things are true and powerful. They drive her to act in a way that most other mothers, or most other human beings really, would never dream of acting. What is horrifying about this story is that Lori Vallow is one of hundreds, one of thousands even, of doomsday cultists who can rationalize this dangerous behavior under the guise of salvation.

The final episode is only around 40 minutes long and leaves you with a gut punch of a tragic ending. The text transcripts, phone recordings, and interview footage of Lori Vallow and her preacher husband Chad Daybell are haunting. I’m sick to my stomach just remembering the way Daybell described his crimes, so nonchalantly, joking even. I can’t wrap my head around the murders discussed in this film and the unwillingness of anyone to be held accountable.

I’m breaking the mold of my regular content to recommend this horrifying true story. One that will have you guessing how something this wild and this horrific could happen under the guise of Christianity. If you’re anything like me, you’ll spend a few days thinking how many other Lori Vallows are out there, ready to take a life to save her own – all based on an interpretation of a book written 2000 years ago.

Know Before You Watch: Features death.