‘We can all be susceptible’: how did a group of models get taken in by a cult?
The Guardian
Overall Assessment
The article profiles a documentary about a 1980s modeling group with cult-like characteristics, emphasizing diverse personal perspectives and historical context. It avoids definitive judgments, instead presenting the story as a complex, subjective experience. The framing prioritizes introspection and cultural reflection over exposé or condemnation.
"the series’ treatment of Eternal Values ultimately isn’t completely damning; the show isn’t treated as an opportunity to expose wrongdoing or hypocrisy so much as a prismatic look at how one person’s self-help studies can be another person’s cult."
Narrative Framing
Headline & Lead 85/100
The headline frames the article as an introspective exploration rather than a sensational exposé, aligning well with the article’s reflective tone and accurately representing its content.
✕ Headline / Body Mismatch: The headline uses a quote-like phrase 'We can all be susceptible' which personalizes the story and invites reflection, while accurately reflecting the article's theme of vulnerability to cult-like groups. It avoids sensationalism and instead frames the story as an inquiry.
"‘We can all be susceptible’: how did a group of models get taken in by a cult?"
Language & Tone 80/100
The tone is generally objective and reflective, though occasional informal descriptors slightly color the narrative.
✕ Loaded Labels: The article uses neutral, descriptive language throughout, avoiding emotionally charged terms when describing the group or its leader.
"Eternal Values, a cult started in the 80s by the eccentric Frederick von Mierers"
✕ Editorializing: It refrains from editorializing, instead quoting the filmmaker’s reflective observations about human susceptibility.
"We all can be susceptible to these things to different degrees."
✕ Loaded Language: The phrase 'woo-woo new-age' introduces a mildly dismissive tone, slightly undermining neutrality.
"Some of the details about Eternal Values skew woo-woo new-age in a way that feels very 1980s"
Balance 75/100
The article includes diverse perspectives from those involved, but leans heavily on the filmmaker’s account without incorporating external experts or critical analysis.
✓ Comprehensive Sourcing: The article centers on Chris Smith, the documentary filmmaker, as the primary source, but also includes Hoyt Richards and references multiple former members with differing views, indicating viewpoint diversity.
"Hoyt Richards, sometimes referred to as the first male supermodel and a former Eternal Values member"
✓ Viewpoint Diversity: It explicitly notes that not all participants agree on whether Eternal Values was a cult, showcasing viewpoint diversity and avoiding a monolithic narrative.
"As seen in the series, not everyone’s account of their experience with Von Mierers is the same; not everyone is even convinced they were involved with a cult in the first place."
✕ Single-Source Reporting: The sourcing relies heavily on one key interviewee (Smith) and secondhand accounts, with limited independent verification or critical expert analysis of cult dynamics.
"Smith said"
Story Angle 90/100
The article adopts a reflective, non-judgmental angle that emphasizes personal interpretation and moral ambiguity, avoiding reductive conflict or moral framing.
✕ Narrative Framing: The article frames the story as a nuanced, prismatic examination of belief and community, resisting a simple 'cult exposé' narrative in favor of exploring subjective experience.
"the series’ treatment of Eternal Values ultimately isn’t completely damning; the show isn’t treated as an opportunity to expose wrongdoing or hypocrisy so much as a prismatic look at how one person’s self-help studies can be another person’s cult."
✕ Framing by Emphasis: It embraces complexity by structuring the documentary in thematic episodes, reflecting an effort to represent the arc of the group’s influence.
"Episode one is the hope and promise of the group, episode two is the downfall and three is the aftermath."
Completeness 90/100
The article effectively situates the story in its historical and cultural context, linking past and present, and acknowledges gaps in the public record.
✓ Contextualisation: The article provides historical context about the 1980s and 1990s cultural environment, the pre-internet research landscape, and draws connections to modern influencer culture and wellness trends, enriching the story’s relevance.
"When we were doing the initial research, it was shocking to us how ahead of the curve Frederick was in terms of what he was promoting for the group – keeping yourself at peak performance"
✓ Contextualisation: It acknowledges the lack of online information about Eternal Values, explaining the investigative challenge and situating the story in a pre-digital era of fragmented records.
"What was odd about this story,” Smith said, “is that there was very little about it online."
Documentary filmmaking is portrayed as a legitimate, thoughtful practice for exploring complex human experiences
The article emphasizes the filmmaker’s reflective, patient, and ethically conscious approach to storytelling, positioning the documentary as a nuanced inquiry rather than a sensational exposé.
"For me, it was a genuine desire to understand all points of view. Life is rarely black and white"
Personal introspection and self-awareness are framed as forms of inclusion and psychological safety
The article encourages readers to reflect on their own potential for 'cult-like relationships', promoting self-inclusion through awareness.
"If you think you’re looking from the outside and judging it, you may have cult-like relationships that you’re not even aware of it."
Individuals are framed as vulnerable and psychologically at risk within ambiguous group affiliations
The headline and closing quote emphasize universal susceptibility, subtly framing personal vulnerability as an ongoing social condition.
"We all can be susceptible to these things to different degrees."
Social media is framed as an enabler of modern cult-like influence and personal manipulation
The article draws a parallel between the cult leader’s self-optimization ideology and contemporary influencer culture, implying a dangerous continuity.
"It would be interesting to see him in the age of social media. I think he would have done incredibly well in an online environment."
Popular culture is framed as having a hidden, unstable underbelly that resurfaces through overlooked histories
The article stresses the obscurity of the story and the need for excavation, suggesting cultural amnesia and buried risks in past movements.
"pointing to the fact that there’s still digging to do when analyzing relatively recent popular culture (and its strange underbelly)"
The article profiles a documentary about a 1980s modeling group with cult-like characteristics, emphasizing diverse personal perspectives and historical context. It avoids definitive judgments, instead presenting the story as a complex, subjective experience. The framing prioritizes introspection and cultural reflection over exposé or condemnation.
A new HBO documentary examines Eternal Values, a 1980s group led by Frederick von Mierers that attracted models, exploring differing perspectives on whether it functioned as a self-help community or a cult. The film highlights archival footage and personal testimonies, presenting a range of experiences without asserting a definitive conclusion. It also reflects on how such groups might manifest in today’s digital influencer culture.
The Guardian — Culture - Other
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