Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a rewatch.
The Aptly-Named: Holy Hell
Director Will Allen made this doc about his own 20-year stint in a West Hollywood-based cult led by–it’s true–a former adult film performer. Comprised of interviews of former members, as well as copious home video footage shot by Allen, Holy Hell examines the rise of the Buddhafield, a combination of environmentalist commune and spiritual movement. For gay men enduring the pain of the AIDS epidemic in the late 80s and early 1990s, it offers an accepting reprieve from an otherwise hostile religious landscape. A mysterious leader named Michel presides over it all, keeping creepy watch over his flock often while wearing a speedo and little else. Yet the downright silliness–and yes, it is very silly at times, by design–conceals something far more sinister as stories of psychological torture, manipulation and even rape begin to surface.
The participants of Holy Hell, especially Allen himself, bare their souls and experiences with little ego or reservation. That goes a long way toward giving the film its power, and its lasting creepiness. When Michel’s origins finally do surface, they only add to the insanity of it all, which drives home the film’s main point: cults seldom begin with nefarious purposes, nor do the participants seek to join one. Harrowing, scary, and always jaw-dropping, Holy Hell will likely inspire a giggle or two of disbelief. That only makes the menace of it all so much creepier.
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da90027
Isn’t this an old documentary? I think I saw this 2 years or more ago on a cable channel.
sjdoug
IMDB says it was produced in 2016
decampbell
Right below the picture it says. “titles of the past that deserve a watch or a rewatch.”
brianBrennan
Must be a slow “news” day for you guys! That doc has been around for years!
decampbell
Right below the picture it says. “titles of the past that deserve a watch or a rewatch.”
ScottOnEarth
The Speedo alone would have scared me off….but this looks like a documentary worth watching.
Chrisk
I forgot where I saw it.. Netflix maybe. It was actually very good though.
spacecadet
Yeah, “old” but good documentary. Cults are never a good idea and people susceptible to them need counseling and mental health support. And Michel himself just looked creepy! Anyone looking to be worshipped is just bad news. Like Trump. Lol
pscheck2
sorry! wrong name. BIDDEN!
SPEEDOSWIMMER
Michel = Narcissist
zealot
Interesting. I’m watching “The Vow” on HBO and from watching this trailer there are several parallels.
bachy
Documentaries about cults are fascinating and this one is no exception. I’m always stunned to discover how many people – even educated people – seem to fall completely into a kind of enchantment over cult leaders like Michel. I’ve always been far too skeptical – some would say, untrusting – to buy into this kind of BS. Such qualities don’t do much for my love life, but I can see a cult coming from a mile away.
BoylesqueBubble
Maybe if the Queerty editors weren’t looking for “thirst trap” pictures for a “news” post and actually paid attention, this has been out already for a few years now. Idiots.
David Reddish
Hello Bubble. As you can see from the very first line of this piece, this is a series for all films, not just recent releases.
Bromancer7
Maybe if you actually read the piece you’d see, right at the top, it’s a column about movies worth a rewatch. Idiot.
Kevan1
He went by Dirk Or Dirk Rod for falcon studios. He only did one or two movies.
SPEEDOSWIMMER
WINNER’S WAY by Falcon Studios?
mtf675ad
I wonder if his movies are still obtainable. He sure was hot. Is he still alive?
Jim
Okay watched the preview. Still don’t know what the movie is about!!!
mtf675ad
I found one of his old porn scenes. He had a nice dick.
The real Bruce
Even though it’s from 2016, the message is still clear. If it looks to good to be true, it very likely is. Some of the former followers (victims) shed some light on this creep and its scary. I hope I can find this documentary to see the whole thing.