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Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults

Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults
★ 6.8/10•2020•51m•TV-MA•Documentary•Crime
Similars

What do you believe?

What started in 1975 with the disappearance of 20 people from a small town in Oregon, ended in 1997 with the largest suicide on US soil and changed the face of modern New Age religion forever. This four-part docuseries uses never-before-seen footage and first-person accounts to explore the infamous UFO cult that shocked the nation with their out-of-this-world beliefs.

StatusEnded
Runtime51m
LanguageEN
First Air DateDec 3, 2020

Episodes

Episode 1 - The AwakeningE151m

The Awakening

March 1997. Thirty-nine members of the Heaven’s Gate cult are found dead in a Southern California mansion - the largest mass suicide in U.S. history. The inception of this mysterious group dates back to 1970s Oregon, where founding members Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite begin to recruit individuals interested in end-of-the-world Christianity, new age religion, and UFOs - but the disappearance of new members soon drives media attention and family concerns.

Dec 3, 2020

Episode 2 - The ChrysalisE251m

The Chrysalis

As the Heaven’s Gate "Classroom" begins, Bonnie and Marshall - who call themselves "Ti" and "Do" or "The Two" - enforce strict rules of no family communication. After Ti dies from cancer in 1985, a distraught Do briefly allows members to visit their families, and a few consider leaving the group for good. When the members return, Do becomes much more controlling - and opens the door to group suicide.

Dec 3, 2020

Episode 3 - The Second HarvestE351m

The Second Harvest

Using a popular sci-fi TV series to help bolster his teachings, Do encourages asexuality and individual submission for the benefit of the collective - and even initiates voluntary castrations. Having dwindled in number, the group starts recruiting again, but they’re met largely with derision and skepticism. Seeing this as a sign, Do begins planning their exit to the next level.

Dec 3, 2020

Episode 4 - The ExitE451m

The Exit

The 1997 arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet spurs the group to prepare for their departure, though their plan to commit mass suicide goes undetected. After an anonymous 911 caller alerts the authorities, Heaven’s Gate, deemed the first "internet cult," becomes a media and pop culture phenomenon - but the suicides have a very different effect on those closest to them. Today, former members, loved ones, and experts reflect on the legacy of Heaven’s Gate, offering a chilling reminder that indoctrination can happen to anyone.

Dec 3, 2020

Actors

Marshall Applewhite

Marshall Applewhite

Self - Co-Leader of Heaven’s Gate (archive footage)

Bonnie Nettles

Bonnie Nettles

Self - Co-Leader of Heaven’s Gate (archive footage)

Sawyer

Self - Former Member

Frank Lyford

Self - Former Member

Benjamin Zeller

Self - Religious Studies Professor

Janja Lalich

Self - Sociologist

Robert Balch

Self - Sociologist

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