Credit: Netflix

From slapstick comedy to mind-boggling mystery, Netflix’s collection of thrillers spans a variety of sub-genres. However, if you’re looking for a thriller that cracks into the cerebral space, leaning on bizarrely grounded themes, Unchosen might just be the fit you’re after.

Unchosen stars Molly Windsor as Rosie, who lives in a reclusive Christian community with her husband Adam, portrayed by Sex Education star Asa Butterfield, and their daughter. As a devoted wife and mother, she has adapted to the limitations of her conservative community, or so she thought, until she encounters escaped convict Sam, forcing her to weigh where the real danger actually lies – with the cult or Sam.

While Unchosen undoubtedly ventures into a unique territory, it is bound to make spectators curious about its inspirational roots. So, for those curious about whether the Netflix series is based on a true story, it’s just safe to say that creator Julie Gearey is not exactly oblivious to a cult’s appeal to humanity, especially in times of social, political, and financial turmoil.

During her research for the psychological thriller, Gearey discovered that approximately 2,000 cult-like groups operate in the country, solidifying her belief in the show’s relevance. If you have watched the thriller already, you must have caught up on the statistics in the opening scenes themselves.

“When society is going through a period of extreme uncertainty – like we are now – that’s when these cults rise up,” the showrunner explained, in a conversation with Tudum. “Over two thousand cults exist in the United Kingdom. Some are closed communities. But many, like this fictional one, live in plain sight,” she clarified.

Although the Netflix series is not based on any specific story, Gearey revealed that she drew inspiration from real-life accounts and the experiences of ex-cult members. She turned to online platforms and social media to reach out to people who dared to escape these cults, and their experiences further informed the characters and the storyline at the centre of Unchosen.

The series creator didn’t name-drop any specific cult since she was determined to gain their trust and maintain anonymity. “What we found was that quite a lot of them were traumatised. It was important to reassure them as much as we could that, firstly, nobody watching the show would ever recognise them and secondly, that whatever they had to say about the emotional experience of being involved, we would try to respect and reflect as truthfully as possible within the show.”

That said, The Sunday Times added that the series “borrows from the Plymouth Brethren and other ultra-conservative groups” for inspiration.

As for Butterfield? His research to bring Adam to life led him to the BBC documentary Bruderhof Community, based on the Bruderhof, a radical Christian sect located in Sussex. Similarly, he also watched documentaries about the Brethren, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey.