Sex slaves for “The Apostle”?
It’s part exposé, part survivor testimony, and part courtroom reckoning.
And a Reddit channel helps break the story of the abusive leader of this megachurch.
I rank “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo” #3 in my list of “The Best Religious Cult Documentaries” (I’m up to 14 of them!).
Trailer for “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo”
Watch “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo”
You can watch it here on HBO Max.
Or check JustWatch for other streaming options.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: Users (na); Critics (100)
Director’s Note: This 3-part docuseries was directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and produced by Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions. Tiexiera also worked on “P.S. Burn This Letter Please” and “Subject.”
Release Date: December 6, 2022 (HBO Max)
My Review of “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo”
The Setup
This doc digs into La Luz del Mundo, a Mexico-based church with millions of members and a dark legacy of sexual abuse.
It centers around survivors coming forward after decades of silence, especially after the 2019 arrest of Naasón Joaquín García, the group’s self-proclaimed “Apostle” and spiritual leader.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- One whistleblower was stabbed 69 times after accusing a church leader—he survived and blamed the church’s Apostle for the attack.
- Even after Naasón pleaded guilty, many followers still referred to him as a divine Apostle and blamed the victims.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Reddit! — The subreddit r/exlldm became ground zero for exposing the scandal, as ex-members’ anonymous posts and shared evidence there directly fueled media investigations and helped bring La Luz del Mundo’s abuse to light.
- Despite being charged with rape, trafficking, and child porn, Naasón was granted a $50 million bail—prosecutors feared his flock could actually raise it.
- Three generations of leaders—Samuel, then Naasón—ran what survivors say was a decades-long grooming system dressed up as “blessings from God.”
- The church hosted Naasón’s 50th birthday party at the Palacio de Bellas Artes—Mexico’s most iconic cultural venue.
- Survivors recount being sent to dance for church leaders, followed by forced sexual acts framed as sacred rituals.
- The church collects 10% of every member’s income and built a vast empire, including ranches in Texas and California.
- 1997 was the first big public crack: multiple women appeared on Televisa to accuse then-leader Samuel Joaquín of abuse from decades earlier.
- Even with growing evidence, loyalists defended the church’s Apostles as martyrs, while dissenters were ostracized or cut off entirely.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The whistleblower stabbed in ’97 was Moisés Padilla Íñiguez. He said Samuel sexually abused him when he was a teen.
- Jorge Erdely and his anti-cult org played a major role in publicizing the early allegations and trying to revoke the church’s legal status.
- Victims describe Naasón’s home as a “palace” where abuse sessions were scheduled like church services—complete with handlers and guards.
- The documentary also points to alleged ties between the church and political elites that gave it cover for decades.
- One survivor says her 9-year-old sister was found in a compromising position with Samuel Joaquín—but nothing was done.
Wrap Up
This doc is about both a criminal leader and what happens when faith is weaponized. It doesn’t offer resolution, but it shines a light that’s long overdue.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc