“You’re next.” That’s the eerie warning that viewers will hear over and over in the CW’s new drama series “Cult.” The show centers on Jeff Sefton (Matthew Davis, “Legally Blonde”), an investigative journalist constantly forced to deal with a brother who is prone to one obsession after another. However, his brother Nate’s (James Pizzinato) latest obsession—a TV show called “CULT”—proves to be dangerous when he disappears from his blood-stained apartment in the middle of the night. Jeff, untrusting of the police, takes it upon himself to find his brother, and soon discovers the dark underworld created by the fans of “CULT.”

The format of a show-within-a-show makes for an intriguing pilot episode. In fact, when the episode begins, audiences are shown part of the fictitious television show “CULT,” leading them to believe that “Cult” is a television show about a former cult member trying to find her kidnapped sister. But then, the camera pans out to show an Internet café full of fans engrossed in the episode and the true nature of the series is revealed. Overall, this technique not only adds an interesting twist to the pilot episode, but also creates a structure not seen anywhere else on television today.

This also serves to construct a more interesting plot. As Jeff delves deeper into “CULT,” he begins to discover unexplainable connections between real life events and the events happening on the show. From clues left behind by his brother, Jeff is able to track down his brother’s friend Merriam, who seems to be just as involved in the cult fandom as Nate was. However, to Jeff’s dismay, she kills herself before his eyes just after uttering the words “Well, hey, these things just snap right off” —a phrase repeated by victims of the cult on “CULT” and remarked to Jeff by his brother shortly before he disappeared. As a whole, the connections between “CULT” and Jeff’s search for his brother make the pilot episode incredibly thought-provoking and audiences will want to find out what this fictitious TV show is really about.

“Cult” also features strong acting. Matthew Davis is exceptionally believable as journalist Jeff Sefton, especially when interacting with or talking about his brother Nate. The level of desperation Davis displays a character that audiences will want to see reunited with his brother. Jessica Lucas (“Melrose Place”) also impresses as Skye, a young assistant for “CULT” who aims to help Jeff find his brother and hopefully her father who disappeared ten years ago. Lucas is sweet, sassy and headstrong, and audiences will automatically like her.

But most striking of all is Robert Knepper (“Prison Break”) as the actor who plays cult leader Billy Gramm on “CULT.” Knepper’s performance as Billy is chilling, to say the least, and audiences will fear him despite the fact that his character is fictional within the show. That being said, the acting within the fictional series “CULT” is at times a bit overdramatic, but it’s probable that this is a deliberate attempt by the CW to distinguish between the two series.

As a whole, “Cult” has much to offer in terms of suspense and intrigue. With the innovative format of a series-within-a-series, the new show creates a fascinating web of clues and connections for viewers to follow. This makes for a plot that will have viewers completely engrossed throughout the entire pilot episode. Additionally, quality acting makes an interesting plot more poignant and allows audiences to connect with the characters. All of these factors combine to create a pilot episode worthy of followers—and if you’re not one yet, “You’re next.”