What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedUnder the Banner of Heaven
Dustin Lance Black · Series · 2022
If you loved Under the Banner of Heaven, start with Under the Banner of Heaven (Jon Krakauer) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 1 podcast, each matched to Under the Banner of Heaven across media.
What hooked you in Under the Banner of Heaven was the unsettling intersection of rigid religious devotion and the cold, calculated violence that follows.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book
Explores: sectarian violence, radicalization, conspiracy.
Like Under the Banner of Heaven, this investigative work examines the terrifying ease with which radicalization and extreme belief systems can justify brutal sectarian violence within a community.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
James McBride · Book · 2023
Explores: racial tension, small-town secrets, marginalized communities.
You will find the same preoccupation with how small-town secrets and historical shadows shape the present as seen in Under the Banner of Heaven, but through a community-focused lens.
The Black Dahlia
James Ellroy · Book · 2014
Explores: Obsession, Police Corruption, Murder Investigation.
This story mirrors the dark obsession and moral decay explored in Under the Banner of Heaven, focusing on how a gruesome crime reveals the rot hidden beneath societal surfaces.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Explores: Mafia, Corruption, Crime.
If the institutional corruption and systemic darkness in Under the Banner of Heaven captivated you, this unflinching look at organized crime offers a similarly jarring and essential investigative experience.
Films on the same thread
Killers of the Flower Moon
Film · 2023
Explores: Systemic Racism, Greed, Betrayal.
This narrative shares the chilling historical weight of Under the Banner of Heaven, demonstrating how greed and systemic prejudice can facilitate calculated acts of violence against innocent individuals.
Se7en
David Fincher · Film · 1995
Explores: Moral Decay, Urban Decay, Good vs Evil.
The grim atmosphere and the hunt for a killer driven by twisted ideological conviction will resonate with you if you appreciated the psychological tension of Under the Banner of Heaven.
Frailty
Bill Paxton · Film · 2002
Explores: Religious Fanaticism, Childhood Trauma, Unreliable Narrator.
This film digs into the same terrifying territory as Under the Banner of Heaven, specifically the way religious fanaticism can distort a father’s morality and justify horrific, violent acts.
The Batman
Matt Reeves · Film · 2022
Explores: Corruption, Vigilantism, Moral Decay.
Much like the detective in Under the Banner of Heaven, you follow a protagonist whose investigation into a serial killer forces him to confront his own family's corrupt legacy.
Podcasts on the same thread
Heaven's Helpline
Podcast
Explores: sexual abuse, institutional cover-up, religious institutions.
This deep dive into institutional cover-ups echoes the investigative spirit of Under the Banner of Heaven, exposing the dark consequences when religious organizations prioritize their power over human lives.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Under the Banner of Heaven based on a book?
Yes, the 2022 television series Under the Banner of Heaven is an adaptation of the non-fiction book of the same name. The series explores the same themes of faith, fundamentalism, and the investigation into the brutal murder connected to a prominent Utah family.
Should I read the book Under the Banner of Heaven before watching the show?
You can watch the television adaptation of Under the Banner of Heaven without reading the book first. Both versions follow the detective's investigation into the murder and the family's descent into LDS fundamentalism, so the source material is not a mandatory prerequisite for understanding the show.
What is the premise of Under the Banner of Heaven?
Under the Banner of Heaven follows a devout detective whose faith is tested while investigating a murder. The case uncovers a connection to an esteemed Utah family's spiral into LDS fundamentalism and their growing distrust of the government, which serves as the central conflict of the story.
Is Under the Banner of Heaven a true story?
The television series Under the Banner of Heaven is based on the book of the same name, which chronicles real events. The narrative focuses on a detective investigating a murder tied to a specific family's radicalization into LDS fundamentalism and their conflict with government authority.