The Cult of the Image: Inside HBO’s New Docuseries on 1980s Model Group Eternal Values

HBO has released *Bring Me the Beauties*, a three-part docuseries directed by Chris Smith that examines the complex history of Eternal Values, an image-obsessed group founded in the 1980s by Frederick von Mierers. The series, which premiered on HBO in the US on 1 June and on Max in the UK and Australia on 2 June, centres on the group’s recruitment of models and its fixation on self-optimisation. Smith, known for his work on *American Movie* and recent Netflix profiles of figures such as Jim Carrey and the band Wham!, approaches the subject with a focus on the psychological mechanics of belief rather than simple condemnation.

The narrative is anchored by extensive interviews with Hoyt Richards, a former member often referred to as the first male supermodel. Richards served as the primary gateway for the production team, helping to secure on-camera participation from other former followers after years of relationship-building. Smith noted that initial research revealed very little online information about the group, necessitating a patient, investigative approach to uncover the story. Richards’ perspective is pivotal, as he recounts both the initial allure of the community and the more menacing aspects of its control mechanisms, particularly in the period following von Mierers’ death in the 1990s.

Visually, the series employs specific archival techniques to evoke the aesthetic of 1980s public access television and music videos. Smith’s team degraded upgraded video masters to replicate the lower-resolution, soft quality of the era, a method similar to techniques used in his Wham! documentary. This stylistic choice is intended to transport viewers back to the time, treating New York in the 1980s and 1990s as a character in itself. The archival footage includes material from a public access show hosted by von Mierers, highlighting the eccentric nature of the founder who maintained a radiant, fit appearance that seemed ahead of its time.

The docuseries draws explicit parallels between Eternal Values and contemporary digital-age phenomena, including influencer culture, wellness trends, and the practice of “looksmaxxing.” Smith observed that von Mierers’ emphasis on peak physical performance was remarkably prescient, suggesting the founder would have thrived in the modern social media landscape. The series also briefly references Scientology when discussing parallels to active organisations, while inviting viewers to consider how the group’s dynamics mirror modern susceptibility to cult-like structures in less formalised settings.

Ultimately, *Bring Me the Beauties* avoids a monolithic portrayal of the group, presenting a prismatic view of how one person’s self-help journey can be another’s experience of control. Smith structured the episodes around the group’s hope and promise, its downfall, and the aftermath, aiming to understand varied perspectives rather than painting with a broad brushstroke. The director suggests that the story serves as a mirror for audiences, highlighting how everyone can be susceptible to these dynamics to varying degrees, making the exploration of this lesser-known chapter in popular culture both timely and thought-provoking.