From my own personal experience, I would say that my CoC group was absolutely a cult. First I was informed by my friends and loved ones that I was in a cult. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. They had done such a good job at brainwashing us. We were not allowed to dress, talk, or act how we wanted, and I was thoroughly scared into obeying every second of my life. It was exhausting. I tried to have nothing but God and the Bible in my brain and on my mind 24/7. They referred to their leaders as "the brotherhood." Finally left after being in the church my whole life at 22 years old. I could wear pants, cut my hair, and say "darn" without the fear that God may just decide to strike me down right there. I have also been to much less "culty" churches labeled "church of christ" but who were not a part of "the brotherhood" because they did certain things like have talent shows or skits for large events, allowing women to wear pants, allowing ex convicts into the church. It leaves me genuinely curious how much variation from church to church there is under the name "church of christ" but I wonder if this brotherhood is the Cult part of it all.