God (through Moses) warned us about this, but here we are still worshipping false idols. At least, that is what appears to be going on, still, at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).
On Wednesday, Netflix revealed the trailer for documentary series Trust Me: The False Prophet, directed by Rachel Dretzin and effectively a sequel series to her Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022). The four-episode (x45 minutes apiece) new docuseries will debut on April 8.
This one “chronicles the rise of Samuel Bateman, the self-proclaimed heir to Warren Jeffs’ Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), through the eyes of one couple who infiltrated his inner circle,” the synopsis reads.
That would be Christine Marie, a cult expert, and her videographer husband Tolga Katas. The pair moved into Short Creek, Utah, “to support a fractured FLDS community vulnerable to a new ‘prophet,’ the Netflix description continues, “and decide to take matters into their own hands when they uncover evidence of unignorable evil.”
Jeffs is currently serving life in prison following two convictions for child sexual assault. Bateman is doing 50 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Eleven of Bateman’s adult followers have also been convicted of charges related to the child sexual abuse conspiracy.
Dretzin had previously expressed interest in making a second season of Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, co-directed by Grace McNally — for all intents and purposes, Trust Me: The False Prophet is exactly that.
In addition to Dretzin, Trust Me is executive produced by Jeff Skoll, Courtney Sexton, Miura Kite, Dorin Razam, Zachary Herrmann and Katas. It is produced by Jamila Ephron and hails from Participant and Ark Media.
Watch the trailer, here: