What happens when a group of devout Jehovah’s Witnesses find punk rock, synth beats, and their own damn voice? “Witness Underground” is the story of artists who leave the Church and start a band—instead of starting over.
Trailer for “Witness Underground”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- The Jehovah’s Witnesses had rules so bizarre, even the rhythm of a song—like a disco beat—could be banned for inviting demons.
Watch “Witness Underground”
You can watch “Witness Underground” for free (with ads on Tubi and JustWatch or pay for it on the major streamers.) Check here for all the streaming options: JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 89/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: not yet rated
Director’s Note: This 83-minute documentary is directed and written by Scott Homan. It’s his breakout feature, and it blends underground music energy with cult deprogramming like no other.
Release Date: 2021
My Review of “Witness Underground”
The Setup
In the 1990s, a group of young Jehovah’s Witnesses in Minneapolis created a vibrant indie music scene—without anyone in their congregation knowing.
They called it Nuclear Gopher.
These musicians recorded albums, launched an internet label, and built a full recording studio—years before most people even knew what a blog was. But there was a cost: they had to hide their artistic lives from church leaders. Eventually, they were faced with a brutal choice—faith or freedom.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Nuclear Gopher started posting albums online as early as 1996—when most indie labels hadn’t even heard of the internet.
- Several artists in the scene were “disfellowshipped” (ex-communicated), causing them to lose all contact with their families overnight. Some died by suicide after being cut off from their communities.
- Live performances from artists like Ryan Sutter and Cindy Elvendahl show just how much talent was hiding in plain sight.
- Director Scott Homan, himself a former Jehovah’s Witness, weaves his own story of deprogramming throughout the film.
- We see rare footage from early Nuclear Gopher recordings, showing the DIY ethos that kept the scene alive—despite religious pressure to shut it down.
- The doc explores how creativity became a form of survival for these musicians, many of whom had nowhere else to turn.
Wrap Up
“Witness Underground” shows how even in the most controlled environments, art finds a way. This is one of the most unique music documentaries I’ve seen—equal parts punk history and cult escape story.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc