'The Bone Temple' And The 7 Scariest Cult Leaders In Movies & Shows
Stories about cults never go out of style. Why? Well, I suppose there's something grimly fascinating about religious fantasticism that's hard to look away from. More importantly, these types of stories create fertile territory for cautionary tales and metaphors about control, extremes, and power.
With 28 Years Later: Bone Temple (2026) conjuring terror with its sinister Satanic cult, it's the perfect time to spotlight some of the scariest cult leaders in movies and shows. Watch them now on platforms like Prime Video or even free streamers like Hoopla and Tubi.
Minnie & Roman Castevet
It doesn't get much more classic horror than Rosemary's Baby. Adapted from Ira Levin's novel, the movie offers a scathing commentary on women's bodily autonomy similar to Levin's other famous book, The Stepford Wives. Here, the metaphor comes in the form of a cult and a failing marriage when Rosemary's husband, Guy (John Cassavetes), offers his baby to the Devil for Hollywood success.
While Guy is undeniably a bad apple, the real surprise is Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman Castevet (Sidney Blackmer), who the movie reveals are the leaders of a Satanic cult. Perhaps what makes the duo so nefarious is their age. As an elderly married couple, they're the last people you'd expect to front a Satanic cult. Sure, they're more than a little eccentric, but they're also friendly, which makes the slow reveal about their true nature all the more horrifying.
Lord Summerisle
If you want to see one of the most iconic cult leaders ever to grace the big screen, then look no further than The Wicker Man (and no, I'm not talking about the 2006 Nicolas Cage remake). Christopher Lee's performance as Lord Summerisle ranks among his best. But don't get it twisted. Lord Summerisle isn't just a cult leader with an incredible name; he is also terrifying.
As a walking, talking juxtaposition, Summerisle comes off as a charming, rational, and, dare I say, dapper gentleman at first glance. However, as the movie progresses, his chilling commitment to his pagan ideology sees him justifying human sacrifice for the perceived betterment of his people. If you enjoyed modern cult movie favorites like Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019), know that The Wicker Man paved the ground for them to run on.
Isaac Chroner
Similar to the unassuming antagonists in Rosemary's Baby, no one pegs a child as a powerful, manipulative cult leader. However, that's exactly what happens in Children of the Corn. Stemming from a Stephen King short story, the movie sees a couple wander into a strange, rural Nebraska town inhabited entirely by children who worship an entity known only as "He Who Walks Behind the Rows."
No one is more devoted than Isaac Chroner (John Franklin), who functions as the group's leader and preacher. Like The Omen (1976) and Orphan (2009), Children of the Corn leans fully into the "creepy kid" trope. Isaac is calmly charismatic but will dole out unflinchingly brutal punishment to anyone who defies him. Children of the Corn is campy at times, but there's something truly unnerving about watching a child engage in religious fanaticism.
Father
Before Ti West became more of a mainstream name with the X horror movie trilogy, he dabbled in found footage. The Sacrament follows a documentary crew who visit the compound of a Jonestown-inspired community, and given that this is horror, it doesn't go well for them. Gene Jones plays Father, the group's charismatic, scripture-spouting leader inspired by real-life cult leader Jim Jones of the aforementioned Jonestown massacre.
While Father has suicide demands similar to his real-life inspiration, he is a menacing figure long before the film's climax. The Sacrament makes sure to spotlight the hypocrisy that often comes with religious extremism. While his followers are to remain peaceful, sober, and free of earthly possessions, Father equips guards with guns, drinks alcohol, and carries a cellphone. If you want a movie inspired by true events, The Sacrament offers a chilling reimaging of one of America's most notorious cult leaders.
Patti Levin
Ask me about underrated shows that are actually good, but somehow a lot of people missed, and I'll scream out The Leftovers every time. After a rapture-like event results in two percent of the world's population suddenly disappearing, several religious groups form. The most notable of them is the Guilty Remnant. Wondering how to spot them? Look not further than the all-white-wearing chain-smokers, lurking around town.
While Holy Wayne (Paterson Joseph) is the founder of the Guilty Remnant, Patti Levin (Ann Dowd) plays a major role in the show as the Mapleton chapter head and antagonist to one of our complicated protagonists, Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux). Whenever I think back to The Leftovers, Patti always comes to mind. She is unpredictable, nihilistic, and deeply complicated, which will make her an absolute delight for fans of psychologically heavy dramas.
Cal Roberts
If you're looking for a new series to binge, consider the underrated Hulu original, The Path. While you'll surely recognize series leads Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan from their many well-known roles, the real standout is Hugh Dancy as Cal Roberts. Technically, Cal isn't the official leader of The Meyerist Movement, but he wants to be, and that ambition has him conniving and manipulating in an attempt to reach that goal. You won't like him, but you'll sympathize with him to a point.
The Path is the ultimate treat for anyone craving a series loaded with psychological depth. Using bits and pieces of real New Age philosophies to inform the fictional Meyerism, the show offers a realistic depiction of a cult. While The Path lacks The Leftovers' supernatural elements, their similar themes make them perfect pairings if you like this type of TV.
Cardinal Guillot
It's not often I get to talk about The Exorcist TV series. To some of you, the fact that 1973's The Exorcist even has a follow-up show is probably news. However, let me tell you with utmost sincerity that this two-season Fox series is better than you think. It centers on two contrasting priests, progressive Father Tomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and old-school Father Marcus Keane (Ben Daniels), as they investigate demonic possessions. In some ways, it's a little like Evil (2019) or Supernatural (2005), just without a monster of the week format.
While spoiling too much about the plot ruins the twists, The Exorcist goes well beyond the traditional "at-home possessions" to reveal a larger conspiracy storyline involving a Satanic cult infiltrating the Catholic church. Truthfully, the real leader here is the demon Pazuzu. However, Cardinal Guillot (Torrey Hanson), with the help of Brother Simon (Francis Guinan), plays a significant role in orchestrating and spreading the cult to other high-ranking church officials. Demons infecting priests present their own special kind of horror, which makes The Exorcist well worth the watch for anyone looking for intriguing drama and some genuine scares.
Sir Jimmy Crystal
After nearly two decades of silence, the 28 Days Later franchise got another installment with 28 Years Later in 2025. Just six months later, its follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is here, and with it comes the return of Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), the Teletubbies-obsessed leader of a cult known as "The Jimmys." If you've watched The Walking Dead (2010), Jimmy making his followers call themselves by his name might remind you of Negan. However, the similarities (mostly) end there.
Jimmy commits plenty of violence, but he does so wearing a blonde wig and bright track suits, all in the name of the Devil. If you like zombie movies, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a solid pick, just know you'll want to watch 28 Years Later, at least, before jumping in. Scary, bloody, and tense, The Bone Temple will change how you view the name "Jimmy."
