Survivor, actor, and filmmaker Anthia Gillick warns that manipulation, isolation, and exploitation transcend national, cultural, and geographic lines
Many individuals picture secluded compounds, magnetic American leaders, and shocking tales from documentaries or news reports when cults come to mind. However, survivor, actor, and filmmaker Anthia Gillick argues that a key misunderstanding is the belief that cults are exclusively an American phenomenon.
“Cults do not require a specific flag, accent, or nationality to thrive,” states Gillick. “The specifics might vary from nation to nation, but manipulation, isolation, fear, and control can appear in very similar ways. The real risk lies in assuming something like this could never occur in your own community.”
Recent conversations in the United Kingdom have underscored a truth that survivors have known for years: extremist and coercive organizations are not limited by nationality. A recent piece in The Big Issue contended that the UK is just as susceptible to the appeal of cults as other nations, noting striking parallels between groups operating on both sides of the Atlantic.
Gillick, who survived and testified against one of America’s most infamous sex cults, says the core tactics of manipulation can seem strikingly familiar no matter where they take place.
“A major reason people overlook warning signs is that they are searching for something that appears obviously dangerous,” explains Gillick. “But manipulation does not always make itself known. It can start with promises of community, purpose, affection, opportunity, or change. By the time a person understands they are being controlled, their world may have shrunk far more than they ever expected.”
Gillick has direct experience with how easily the public can misjudge coercive groups. Now, she uses storytelling and film production to examine the truths of survival and manipulation. Her original limited series, The Taste, draws from her own experience of surviving and testifying against a notorious sex cult.
She hopes projects like The Taste can break down stereotypes about who is vulnerable to coercive control and help audiences recognize that the desire for connection and belonging is universal.
This issue is increasingly global in scope. Communities now form across borders, enabling influential leaders and tightly managed groups to reach individuals thousands of miles away. Social media, private online forums, podcasts, and other digital tools have reshaped how people connect—and how influence can propagate.
“We must stop viewing cults as something that only takes place elsewhere,” Gillick says. “The internet has made connection worldwide, which can be wonderful. But it also means influence can spread globally. A person does not have to step through a compound’s gate to become deeply entangled with a controlling group or leader.”
“Different countries have different cultures, beliefs, and histories,” Gillick notes. “But people everywhere crave connection, meaning, and a sense of belonging. That is why we cannot treat cults as someone else’s concern. Awareness must cross borders as well.”
Through her storytelling, Gillick aims to challenge misconceptions and foster greater compassion for survivors.
“A survival story is not just about what occurred to you,” says Gillick. “It is also about how you handle the truth afterward. For me, that means sharing stories that are honest, complex, and human. If those stories help someone identify manipulation sooner, feel less alone, or understand a survivor with more empathy, then they have value.”
About Anthia Gillick
Anthia Gillick is a SAG-AFTRA actor, writer, producer, and filmmaker based between Los Angeles and Colorado. As a cult survivor, she channels her personal experience into her work and is currently pitching The Taste, an original limited series based on her true story of surviving and testifying against one of America’s most notorious sex cults.
For more information, visit Gillick’s official website: https://www.anthiagillick.com/
Anthia Gillick is available for interviews.
Amanda Kent
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