UB Spotlight: ‘Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown’

National Geographic and Hulu will premiere the third installment of the Emmy Award-winning, critically acclaimed franchise “One Day in America” with the Hulu Original “Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown.”

The mini series will premiere this Monday, June 17th on Hulu and will air on National Geographic on August 14th.

“Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown” tells the story of an idealistic religious organization led by the infamous Jim Jones, who set out to establish a utopian community in Guyana. What began as a peaceful movement seeking social justice ultimately spiraled into a mass casualty that left 918 dead.

Told by survivors and eyewitnesses, along with rare footage and rare recordings of Jim Jones, the powerful series takes an immersive look into the final harrowing hours leading up to one of America’s darkest chapters.

“Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown” sheds light on understanding why the events of November 18th, 1978 took place.

The series shows Jim Jones journey to create a new society, a place where everybody was equal. Survivors and his son speak on Jim Jones and share their stories.

Including spotlighting The Peoples Temple as it was a multi racial and generational congregation.

Shown is Jim’s so-called love for African American women, during his ceremonies as they approached him for prayer.

Other archive footage showcases a variety of his preaching and tactics. Which included waking people up with guns in their face, after he had told everyone not to fall asleep.

The archival footage also shows everyone as one big happy family, including children voicing their love for The Peoples Temple.

The series also exposes the many deaths that took place before November 1978. Many of the members, were targeted and shot and even killed, including NBC correspondents, and other members of the press.

In all the series shows how Jim Jones convinced people, to not be afraid to die. Why they followed and what they hoped to achieve from it all in the end.

Each episode focuses on the hours that led up to the shocking events of November 18th, 1978:

THE PROMISED LAND
In the tumultuous 1970s America, Jim Jones is a charismatic church leader, preaching social justice to his growing, diverse congregation. To escape the inequities of the U.S., he sets up Jonestown, a utopian commune in the Guyanese jungle, but shocking rumors of abuse make their way to California’s Rep.

Ryan and reporters. Within 24 hours of visiting, they discover their presence is unwelcome.

HOW VERY MUCH I’VE LOVED YOU
Tensions in Jonestown are at an all-time high after a knife-wielding Temple member attacks Rep. Ryan. Fearing more violence, the congressman and his group hurry out of Jonestown as quickly as possible.

Some Temple members come forward to leave with the visitors, desperate for safe passage out of the remote commune. As the group attempts to leave, Jim Jones has other sinister plans.

PARADISE LOST
Shocking news of the mass murder-suicide in Jonestown reaches the U.S. The White House dispatches the Special Forces to stop the unfolding crisis and locate Jim Jones.

Upon arrival, a scene of unimaginable horror confronts them, but hundreds of Jonestown residents are missing, prompting a desperate search for survivors who may have fled into the jungle.

“Cult Massacre” features first-person accounts from former Peoples Temple members, including Thom Bogue, Leslie Wagner Wilson and Yulanda Williams; former member of Congress and aide to U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan Jackie Speier; former Washington Post foreign correspondent Charles Krause; former Special Ops Air Force Sgt. David Netterville, who was among the first of three U.S. service members to enter Jonestown in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and has never spoken about his experience for a documentary before; and Jim Jones’ son, Stephan Jones.

The three-part series from 72 Films’ is executive producers David Glover and Mark Raphael, BAFTA Award-winning director Marian Mohamed, along with Academy Award-winning filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin.

Check Out The Trailer + Stay Tuned for The UB Interview with Survivor Yulanda Willaims!