Sundance Now’s new two-part documentary, Monkey On A Stick: Murder, Madness & The Hare Krishnas, airing Thursday, December 12, 2024, isn’t your typical true-crime fare. It’s not about a single sensational crime, but rather the systemic rot within a seemingly peaceful spiritual movement. Based on the New York Times bestseller, the series pulls back the orange robes to reveal a world of alleged drug smuggling, weapons stockpiling, exploitation, child sexual abuse, and yes, even murder.
The Hare Krishna movement, with its chanting and vegetarianism, has long held a certain mystique. This documentary aims to shatter that image, focusing on the experiences of individuals like Nori Muster, who joined seeking enlightenment but instead found herself entangled in a web of corruption. The series chronicles how the movement’s leadership, ostensibly dedicated to spiritual principles, apparently allowed, and perhaps even encouraged, such behavior to fester.
Monkey On A Stick doesn’t just recount the crimes; it attempts to understand the psychological factors that can lead individuals to commit terrible acts in the name of faith. The dissonance between the Hare Krishnas’ public image and the alleged dark reality forms the core of this disturbing narrative. Through firsthand accounts and investigative reporting, the series paints a complicated picture of a religious group many thought they knew. Brace yourself for a thought-provoking, if unsettling, examination of belief, power, and the human capacity for both good and evil.
Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness & The Hare Krishnas premieres Thursday, December 12, 2024 on Sundance Now.
