What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKultus
Richard Ford · Book · 2022
If you loved Kultus, start with They Will Kill You (Kirill Sokolov, 2026) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kultus across media.
What hooked you in Kultus was the relentless collision of gritty professional survival and the encroaching, inexplicable shadow of ancient, occult conspiracies.
Films on the same thread

They Will Kill You
Kirill Sokolov · Film · 2026
Explores: Sinister apartment buildings, Cult paranoia, Isolated protagonist.
Like Kultus, this story traps an isolated protagonist within the suffocating grip of a sinister cult, proving that even mundane employment can lead to a fight for survival.

John Wick: Chapter 4
Chad Stahelski · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with Kultus: Betrayal.
The high-stakes underworld of assassins mirrors the mercenary life in Kultus, where every alliance is temporary and the threat of total annihilation is always one step behind.

Sinners
Ryan Coogler · Film · 2025
Explores: Returning Home, Family Secrets, Redemption.
Much like the dark forces hunting Thaddeus Blaklok in Kultus, this narrative pulls characters back into a web of inherited evil and inescapable supernatural threats they cannot outrun.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
George Miller · Film · 2024
Explores: Survival, Revenge, Female Empowerment.
The brutal wasteland power struggles echo the chaotic, violent world of Kultus, where survival depends on navigating the whims of ruthless warlords and surviving total societal collapse.
Series on the same thread

Spartacus
Steven S. DeKnight · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with Kultus: Betrayal.
The visceral, blood-soaked arena combat provides the same relentless action found in Kultus, highlighting the desperate struggle of a man forced into a violent life he did not choose.

Mr. Mercedes
David E. Kelley · Series · 2017
Explores: Cat and Mouse, Obsession, Good vs Evil.
This cat-and-mouse game captures the intense, obsessive hunt for a dangerous adversary that drives the plot of Kultus, forcing a weary professional into a high-stakes, personal crusade.

Black Sails
Robert Levine · Series · 2014
Explores: Survival, Moral Ambiguity, Power Struggles.
The moral ambiguity and cutthroat power dynamics among the pirate crew mirror the treacherous environment of Kultus, where internal betrayals are just as deadly as external, monstrous threats.

American Gods
Bryan Fuller · Series · 2017
Explores: Gods and Mortals, Clash of Civilizations, Modern Mythology.
This urban fantasy exploration of ancient gods battling in the modern world mirrors the occult, demon-haunted reality of Kultus, where the supernatural and the everyday collide with devastating consequences.
Podcasts on the same thread

Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
Just as Kultus explores the breakdown of order through demonic action, this historical analysis examines the cyclical, violent patterns of societal collapse that define political revolution throughout history.
The Magnus Archives
Podcast
Explores: Esoteric Research, The Weird, Paranormal Investigation.
The focus on esoteric research and the terrifying, weird reality lurking behind the scenes directly parallels the dark, demon-filled mythology that Thaddeus Blaklok uncovers throughout his journey in Kultus.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kultus a standalone novel?
Kultus, published in 2022 by Richard Ford, is presented as a single narrative centered on Thaddeus Blaklok. The provided information describes the plot of this specific book without mentioning any sequels or series installments, indicating that it functions as a complete story.
What is the primary occupation of Thaddeus Blaklok in Kultus?
In Kultus, the protagonist Thaddeus Blaklok works as a mercenary, demonist, and thug-for-hire. He is initially tasked by clandestine benefactors to retrieve a mysterious key, which triggers the central conflict involving various antagonistic groups and hell-spawned monsters.
Who is pursuing Thaddeus Blaklok throughout Kultus?
Throughout the events of Kultus, Thaddeus Blaklok is pursued by several dangerous parties. These include brutal cultists, bloodthirsty gangsters, deadly mercenaries, and various hell-spawned monsters, all of whom are attempting to secure the mysterious key for their own nefarious purposes.
What is the central mission of the protagonist in Kultus?
The central mission in Kultus involves Thaddeus Blaklok being pressed into service by clandestine benefactors to retrieve a mysterious key. His attempt to secure this artefact becomes the catalyst for the brutal demonic action and the series of confrontations that define the narrative.