BBC Four’s Sirius: An Apocalyptic Order doesn’t just recount the grim history of the Order of the Solar Temple; it unearths fresh layers of unsettling detail that will leave viewers questioning everything they thought they knew about the cult. Focusing on two distinct but interconnected tragedies, the four-part documentary offers a chilling look at the group’s deadly rituals and the lingering questions that continue to haunt investigators.
In Episode 3, the documentary revisits the gruesome discovery of sixteen charred bodies in France, fourteen months after the initial wave of Solar Temple massacres. The victims, all members of the Order, were found arranged in a star pattern around a bonfire, a chilling testament to the cult’s twisted beliefs. The episode meticulously pieces together the events leading up to this horrific scene, relying heavily on Swiss and Canadian research, including photographs of a former cult member who managed to escape the group’s clutches.
Episode 4 shifts the focus to Canada, where in 1997, five individuals died in a ritualistic suicide, convinced they were “transiting” to the planet Sirius to join their fellow cult members. The harrowing story takes a particularly disturbing turn with the revelation that three children were present during the ritual but, thankfully, escaped. Their testimony provides a crucial, albeit traumatic, insight into the cult’s manipulative tactics and the psychological hold it had over its followers.
Throughout both episodes, the filmmakers grapple with a central question: were these deaths suicides, or were they cold-blooded murders disguised as acts of self-sacrifice? The documentary presents conflicting evidence and theories, highlighting the complexities of the investigation and the enduring mystery surrounding the Solar Temple’s activities in France and beyond.
Adding to the unsettling narrative, three journalists who have dedicated years to covering the case offer their expertise, discussing the cult’s pervasive influence and the surprising persistence of loyalties among its remaining followers. With 74 deaths attributed to the Order of the Solar Temple, the documentary leaves open the chilling possibility that the sect may still be operational, a sobering thought that will linger long after the credits roll.
Sirius: An Apocalyptic Order airs Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 22:00 with Episode 3, immediately followed by Episode 4 at 22:45. Both episodes, each with a runtime of 43 minutes, will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
