Raël: The Alien Prophet – Netflix Review

RAËL: THE ALIEN PROPHET on Netflix is a new French docuseries. The topic is a UFO-inspired religion that spiraled into a controversial cult. One that focused on human cloning to achieve eternal life. Read our Raël: The Alien Prophet review here!

RAËL: THE ALIEN PROPHET is a new Netflix documentary series with four episodes. It’s a French production which makes perfect sense as it’s about a cult that began in France. Before I go any further, let me just say that we watched all four episodes for this review. While it may be a bit too long, there are a lot of details to cover.

The story featured in this French Netflix docuseries is about a UFO-inspired religious cult. It attracted a lot of attention for many reasons, but especially when they claimed to have achieved human cloning. Their reason for working on a human cloning project? They claimed it was the way to eternal life.

Continue reading our Raël: The Alien Prophet documentary review below. Find it on Netflix from February 7, 2024.

From aliens to human cloning

While the story of Raël: The Alien Prophet begins in the 1970s, it continues to build and expand its belief system in new ways each decade. The controversial cult was always interesting as the leader Claude Vorilhon said he was approached by aliens, who told him they had created life on Earth.

Just as is the case with Christian creationism, the idea that some higher power (or alien intelligence) designed and created us, resonated with many people. Later, Claude Vorilhon took on the name of Raël, and “Raël: The Alien Prophet” was a reality.

As much as the whole “aliens designed us and they will return to join us” is intriguing, it’s hardly anything new. Scientology works with a similar concept. In the Raëlian belief system, however, all religions seem to be combined. Raël claims that he is the brother of Jesus.

In fact, all the main religious figures are aliens and have eternal life. Raël has met them and he is, of course, one of them. Speaking of eternal life, this is a big thing for Raëlians. It’s also their reason for working on human cloning. Somehow, they equate clones of themselves with having eternal life.

Admittedly, it’s a logic that escapes me, but that’s probably for the best. I would be more nervous if their ideas made perfect sense to me.

Interview with both past and present Raëlians

In the Raël: The Alien Prophet docuseries, there are a lot of archival clips from various news programs. I love this as it’s a great way to see how Raël kept changing his look and style. He often emulates some other cult leader, which means he’s always strangely familiar despite not holding on to one look.

And yes, Claude “Raël” Vorilhon is also interviewed in this docuseries. He’s been in Japan since 2007, where he is still very much pushing Raëlism. We don’t get too much time with him in terms of an actual interview. However, what matters the most isn’t what he says when interviewed anyway.

No, it’s a clip from when they’re getting ready to begin the interview. Raël is treating his assistant/disciple as an actual slave. This is when we truly see him.

We also get a lot of interviews with other Raëlians. Both those still in the Raëlian Movement and those who have left. You won’t know who is which until later in the documentary series. A good thing as they all sound like they’re still in it when it begins. First, they speak as they saw the world, then how they see it (and Raël) now.

What makes a cult?

For me, it’s always a little difficult to recognize the differences between any “normal” religion and a cult. As someone who has faith but does not subscribe to any religion, I can’t say one sounds better or “more true” than any other religion.

And, to be fair, Raël does seem to borrow a little something from most of the conventional and accepted religions. From baptism to donating 10% of your wages to your place of worship and the leader taking on the title “Your Holiness”.

I mean, the religion is all about how aliens came and made us, yet somehow you are now holy?

In any case, like with any other religion or cult, it’s really about money and power. One results in the other and vice versa. These cult leaders do not care about anything except their own power and fortune. The same could be said for many leaders of conventional religions, so again, I’m left wondering what the difference is.

As soon as something turns fanatic, it really doesn’t matter which “God” you subscribe to. The story of Raël: The Alien Prophet is clear proof of this.

Watch Raël: The Alien Prophet on Netflix

The four 45-minute episodes are directed by Antoine Baldassari with co-director: Manuel Guillon. The writer/creator of the Netflix docuseries is Alexandre Ifi. I love how they managed to tell this story that spans decades (and is still happening) via both old footage and lots of new interviews with first-hand accounts.

Also, there are interviews with an American lawyer (from Florida, which should already say plenty) and a journalist. Both seem to think they achieved something. However, all they did was attempt to further their own careers. And, in the process, put the spotlight on the Raëlian Movement when they wanted it.

Two female undercover investigative reporters (a journalist and a photographer) from Canada did manage to do something: Expose what the Raëlian Movement is like from the inside! They spent nine (9!) months in the movement to do this.

While I am always fascinated by these cult documentaries, I also get scared for people. So many believe it could never happen to them, but most of the people who end up in cults have already been groomed via “conventional” religions, which makes it easy for them to accept a new leader.

Also, when someone reaches out to “help” you during a difficult time in your life, it can be easier to accept than refuse help. Scary, but true, as seen in all religious and ideological movements led by fanatics.

RAËL: THE ALIEN PROPHET is out globally on Netflix on February 7, 2024.

Details

Director: Antoine Baldassari
Co-director: Manuel Guillon
Writer: Alexandre Ifi