Sacrifice

An American social psychologist living in Berlin, recently separated from his wife. He studies cults and teaches at a local college, using his expertise to understand and counter manipulative groups. His rational approach and devotion to truth are tested as the line between scholarship and personal risk blur when he becomes entangled with Hilma’s community.

A 16-year-old who travels to Berlin to live with her father for a semester. She is curious and vulnerable, navigating a new city while grappling with family history and the pressure of independence. Her encounters with Martin and Hilma push her toward a crisis point where loyalty, love, and safety collide.

A forensic detective who joins Ben and Max’s team but is revealed to be part of the same cult as Martin. Her professional exterior hides a deeper commitment to Hilma’s cause, illustrating how insiders can exploit systems and trust from within.

A young man connected to an environmental activist circle, he becomes entwined with Mazzy and Hilma’s group. Complex and conflicted, he helps usher Mazzy toward the center while contending with personal losses and the group’s pressure.

The cult’s enigmatic leader who uses therapy-like gatherings, protests, and rituals to mold followers. With a chilling blend of charisma and control, she orchestrates the mass suicide and manipulates both participants and outsiders to expand her influence.

Max’s teenage daughter who is casually aware of the cult’s shadow but not deeply involved. She represents a window into ordinary life intersecting with extraordinary danger and becomes a touchstone for the adults’ protective instincts.

Ben’s colleague who connects to the police and provides a practical link to investigation. He is a bridge between academic analysis and on-the-ground actions, underscoring the tension between professional detachment and personal concern.

A girl recruited by Martin to Hilma’s cause, whose identity threads through flashbacks and the unfolding conspiracy. Her presence links past recruitment to present tragedy, and her fate underscores the cult’s reach into individual lives.