Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

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What do Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and an alleged billion-dollar tax scam have in common?

Eight former scientologists, including the former 2nd in command, speak out about the Church of Scientology.

And “The Church” doesn’t make it easy.

Afterall, some whistle-blowers say they get put into “The Hole” (where they clean bathroom floors with their tongues).

Is it really a cult?

I currently rank “Going Clear” #2 on my list of “Best Scientology Documentaries” (I rank 14!).

I also rank it among my list of “Best Cult Documentaries” (it’s #5 out of 34!).

Yes, I’m a maniac about Scientology/Cult-type docs!

Trailer for “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”

Watch “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”

You can watch “Going Clear”:

You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/going-clear-scientology-and-the-prison-of-belief (except for the YouTube option. I don’t know why, but JustWatch does not include YouTube).

If you’re in Australia or New Zealand, support the folks at Madman who distribute Going Clear over there: https://www.madman.com.au/going-clear-scientology-and-the-prison-of-belief/

Ratings:

  • My Rating: 93/100
  • IMDB Rating: 8/10
  • Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 90/100 (Users); 93/100 (Critics)

Release Date: March 29, 2015

My Review of “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”

I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of a new Scientology documentary when it comes from any director of note.

In this case, it’s Alex Gibney’s masterpiece “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”, the 119-minute HBO documentary inspired by Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

Gibney seems to always nail his subject. Check out my rankings of his other docs: “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” (I rank that 94/100); “Taxi to the Dark Side” (93/100)“Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos” (91/100) and “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley” (91/100)

I love “Going Clear” because it’s full of fascinating nuggets.

You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up:

  • Scientology launched 2,400 lawsuits against the IRS to gain tax-exempt status
  • Sea Org members sign billion-year contracts to work for 40 cents an hour
  • L. Ron Hubbard holds the Guinness World Record for most published works by a single author
  • The church owns more property in Hollywood than any non-government entity, with a real estate empire spanning 12 million square feet globally
  • Members paid up to $500,000 to reach the highest level of “Operating Thetan” (and I thought my pool membership was steep).
  • Leader David Miscavige’s wife hasn’t been seen in public since 2007

Inside the Machine

The doc wastes no time diving into L. Ron Hubbard’s transformation from pulp science fiction writer to spiritual guru.

His claims of heroic military service, which official records largely contradict, played a crucial role in cultivating his godlike status within the church.

During the 1960s, Hubbard fled the U.S. aboard his ship, the Apollo, to avoid legal scrutiny.

What followed became the largest domestic espionage operation in American history.

Scientology members infiltrated government offices to destroy unfavorable records about Hubbard and the church.

The Celebrity Machine (Tom Cruise and John Travolta)

Tom Cruise emerges as Scientology’s golden boy.

Leader David Miscavige reportedly used Cruise’s private auditing sessions to strengthen his loyalty, while providing him with lavish gifts and free labor.

Cruise’s fervent speeches at church events, juxtaposed with Nazi propaganda films in the doc, showcase the organization’s mastery of crowd manipulation.

John Travolta’s story hits differently.

The church supposedly keeps detailed records of celebrity “auditing” sessions – their version of confession – which some claim serves as potential blackmail material.

Through their Celebrity Centre program, they’ve courted everyone from Will Smith to Charles Manson.

The Dark Side

The most haunting revelations come from former executives Mike Rinder and Marty Rathbun.

They describe “The Hole” – where church leaders were allegedly forced to sleep on ant-infested floors, eat table scraps, and confess to imagined crimes.

One former member spent 6 years and 7 months in various church detention centers.

What sets this doc apart are the lesser-known details:

  • Hubbard’s third wife spent 19 months hiding from the FBI with him in small towns
  • The “Times Square Task Force” specifically harassed journalists
  • Miscavige allegedly punched staff members over 50 times
  • Members faced sleep deprivation and manual labor as punishment
  • The church’s “Fair Game” policy authorized destroying critics through any means necessary

Breaking Free

Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis provides one of the doc’s most compelling narratives.

His 35-year journey from true believer to vocal critic started with a simple question from a fan considering joining because of him.

This prompted Haggis to finally research his own religion.

Former member Sylvia “Spanky” Taylor, once John Travolta’s handler, shares how the church separated her from her young child.

Her story exemplifies how Scientology’s “disconnection” policy tears families apart.

Actor Jason Beghe delivers one of the doc’s most raw and unfiltered interviews.

Beghe reportedly spent $1 million on Scientology courses during his 13 years in the church before becoming one of their most outspoken critics.

The Money Trail

The financial revelations stagger:

  • Members paid $800 per hour for advanced courses
  • The church holds over $3 billion in assets
  • They spend millions surveilling and harassing critics
  • Local chapters must send 90% of earnings to headquarters
  • Members go hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt funding their “spiritual progress”
  • The church spent $45 million renovating just the “Super Power” building in Clearwater

The Manipulation Game

The E-meter, their key auditing tool, continues to fascinate me.

Former members describe how this simple galvanometer becomes a psychological weapon, with auditors pressuring them to reveal their deepest fears and flaws.

The gradual revelation of church teachings proves particularly insidious.

Members invest years and fortunes before learning about Xenu and body thetans.

If they had learned that from day one, it might have sent them running.

Wrap Up

I rank “Going Clear” the #2 best Scientology documentary (behind only “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath”.

If you’re curious about the intersection of religion, power, and manipulation, this doc might keep you up at night. Not because it’s sensationalized, but because it all seems to be true.

Thanks for reading!

Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc

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