About Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults

"Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults" is a riveting deep dive into the infamous, UFO-based cult founded by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. Released in 2020, this four-part docuseries retraces the tragic journey of the cult whose members carried out mass suicide in 1997 with the belief of reaching an extraterrestrial spacecraft. The series provides a thorough and balanced look at the rise and fall of the cult, featuring past members' detailed accounts, archival footage and chilling videos made by the cult's leaders.

Making / Production

The series was produced by CNN Original Series and Campfire. Clay Tweel served as the director, while Chris Bannon, Eric Spiegelman, Peter Clowney, and the Pitts siblings (Jonah and Courtney) were executive producers.

Actors

• Frank Lyford as himself - A former member of the Heaven's Gate cult, his reflections and insights enhance the narrative. He vividly recalls the magnetism of the cult's leaders and the appealing simplicity of the cult's beliefs.
• Kelly Cooke as herself - A former member, Kelly offers a women's perspective on the cult activities and reveals the complex psychological web that trapped its followers.
• Rio DiAngelo as himself - Another ex-member, Rio found the Heaven's Gate body site. His contributions serve as first-hand accounts of the horrifying discovery.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Heaven's Gate website is still active more than two decades after the mass suicide of the cult members.
• The series includes never-before-seen footage from inside the cult and candid interviews with former members and loved ones left behind.
• Heaven's Gate is often considered one of the most extreme cults in American history due to the mass suicide.

Quotes

• "We came from distant space, and we're about to return." - Marshall Applewhite
• "They seemed like they were so overjoyed with what they believed and the journey they were going to make." - Frank Lyford
• "It was like stepping off the edge of a precipice and not knowing what was below." - Kelly Cooke

Music, Soundtrack

• The eerie and suspenseful music of the series greatly contributes to its atmosphere, immersing viewers into the chilling account. The music and sound design were overseen by J. Ralph, acclaimed film composer and social activist.

Despite the intriguing content and impactful storytelling, the series didn't win any notable awards in 2020.