15 Best Movies About Cults

15. The Devils

The most controversial film on this list that was banned in several countries upon its release. The film stars Oliver Reed as Urbain Grandier, a priest in 17th century France who wishes to fiercely protect his city of Loudun but also captivates the female populace with his unshackled sexuality.

After a hunchback nun played by Vanessa Redgrave sees Grandier marry another woman, she begins to convince the Catholic Church that Grandier is in league with the Devil and has possessed her and the other nuns of the city.

What follows is a frenzy of religious hysteria as both the nuns and the church feed into the idea of Grandier as some kind of evil sorcerer. This almost forces Grandier to act in the role of cult leader without his knowledge as the nuns devolve into obscene sex obsessed lunatics.

The graphic depictions of members of the church performing deranged sex acts is what led to the film's controversy. But looking past that, it is an examination of the lengths that religious fanaticism can reach, in addition to some strong visuals and production design.