Reviews of “The Most Hated Family in America” (2007) and related work
- Sequel: “America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis” (2011)
- Sequel: “Surviving America’s Most Hated Family” (2019)
“The Most Hated Family in America” (2007
)
Louis Theroux (cast).
Seen in 2018.
The Mosaic fidelity and moral behaviour of Westboro Baptist Church.
Old man Phelps, while clearly a hateful and horrible person, is surprisingly uncharismatic for a fringe cult leader. Aside from the family aspect it isn’t clear what keeps the church together, and as usual, that is not Theroux’s subject.
‣ “America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis” (2011)
Louis Theroux (cast).
Seen in 2020.
Here, Theroux’s interest shifts closer to the driving forces, but it’s still, as he says, on a human level.
moving picture sequel non-fiction
‣ “Surviving America’s Most Hated Family” (2019)
Louis Theroux (cast).
Seen in 2020.
Louis’s interview with Shirley in her own, empty home is heartbreaking: Her father, who founded her cult, went senile, was perceived as demonic and was voted out. Almost all of her children have left, as Louis warned her. Her own power over the cult has waned and its new leaders deny that its message has changed. It’s too sad for her to talk about, and still she stays.