In the 1980s and 1990s, Manhattan socialite Frederick von Mierers built a powerful cult called Eternal Values, blending charisma, wealth, and manipulation to draw in followers seeking meaning and belonging. As the group grew, its rituals turned darker and more controlling, trapping members in a web of devotion and fear. The story traces how von Mierers wielded influence and charm to create a closed world—until cracks in the facade began to expose the cost of blind loyalty.