Remember the ’90s?
Yeah, there was a lot of crazy stuff, but it’s tough to match the Heaven’s Gate cult.
It’s the most infamous UFO cult of all time — Nike Decades space sneakers, comet rides, and an out-of-this-world tragedy collide.
Members were sold on chemically and biologically transforming their body to become the next level alien — and to then get on a UFO and sail off to heaven.
It’s the largest mass suicide on U.S. soil.
I currently rank this #4 on my list of Best Religious Cult Documentaries (up to 14 so far!).
It’s also #11 on my list of Best Cult Documentaries (which is up to 33!)
Yes, I like cult stuff! But I’m not in one. 🙂
Trailer for “Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults”
Watch “Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults”
You can watch it on HBO’s Max at https://play.max.com/show/83f1cb47-bce8-4e60-a9d3-9153e5d4c455.
You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/heavens-gate-the-cult-of-cults (last I checked it included watching Heaven’s Gate through HBO Max bundles with Hulu and Disney+).
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 89/100 (Users); 88/100 (Critics)
Release Date: December 3, 2020
My Review of “Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults”
In 1975, a strange UFO meeting on the Oregon coast leaves 20 attendees feeling as though they were “in the presence of Jesus.”
This is where the unsettling journey of Heaven’s Gate begins, ultimately leading to the largest mass suicide on U.S. soil.
The four-part docuseries, spanning 256 minutes, unpacks the bizarre and tragic story of this cult.
At its center are Do, a former psychiatric patient, and Ti, his nurse. Together, they lead their followers down a path of space salvation.
Their teachings culminate in the 1997 mass suicide of 39 members in San Diego.
These followers, dressed in Nike sneakers and found with $5.76 in their pockets (a nod to Mark Twain’s claimed cost of space travel), died by asphyxiation, aided by a cocktail of drugs and alcohol.
The suicides occurred in three shifts, with Do leading the second wave.
In July 1995, when the Hale Bopp comet appeared in the sky, the cult believed it was their “ship” to the next life.
This celestial event intensified their beliefs, setting the stage for their final act. But the horrors didn’t end there.
Seven to nine male members, including Do himself, underwent castration as a form of purification.
Among the dead was the brother of Michelle Nichols, famous for her role as Nyota Uhura on Star Trek.
Even after the mass suicide, the story took a chilling turn as two more members took their lives.
A particularly haunting detail that emerges is Ti’s correspondence with her daughter, encouraging her to pursue normal activities like going to college—despite her otherworldly beliefs.
The standout of this series is the raw and revealing insider testimonies.
Yet, you’re left wondering why the docuseries didn’t dig deeper into Ti’s early psyche. It’s a missed opportunity to better understand the dynamics of the cult’s leadership.
Dark, unsettling, and sprinkled with unexpected moments of humor, this docuseries is a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind faith and the devastating power of charismatic leaders.
Keep questioning, and whatever you do, steer clear of the Space-approved Kool-Aid… or whatever they’re serving.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc