Holy Hell

Holy Hell
Movie · Documentary

In 1985, recent film school graduate Will Allen became a member of The Buddhafield, a Los Angeles area spiritual group. Also acting as the group's official videographer, he began to document their activities, which centered on the mysterious leader they called Michel, or The Teacher. Over time, the group's dark side began to surface as total devotion turned to paranoia, until finally, unexpected truths about their enlightened leader were revealed -- all in front of Allen's camera. This incredible, 22-year archive of video footage became the basis for HOLY HELL. Now, for the first time since he left the group, Allen turns the camera on himself and asks fellow ex-cult members to come to terms with their past and the unbelievable deceit they experienced.

2016 · 1h 42m
  • 73%
Starring Amy Allen, Gina Allen, William Francesco Allen
Director William Francesco Allen

Related

  • Twisted Yoga
  • Escaping Polygamy
  • The Witnesses
  • The Synanon Fix: Did the Cure Become a Cult?
  • The Institute
  • Deadly Cults
  • Breath of Fire
  • Tickled

Cast & Crew

  • A‌A
    Amy Allen
    Self
  • G‌A
    Gina Allen
    Self
  • W‌F
    William Francesco Allen
    Self
  • W‌A
    Will Allen
    Self
  • W‌F
    William Francesco Allen
    Director
  • C‌W
    Cheryl Wheeler Sanders
    Producer
  • Jared Leto
    Producer
  • M‌D
    Michael Donaldson
    Producer
  • J‌G
    Julian Goldstein
    Producer
  • W‌F
    William Francesco Allen
    Producer
  • A‌J
    Alexandra Johnes
    Producer

About

Holy Hell

Documentary

In 1985, recent film school graduate Will Allen became a member of The Buddhafield, a Los Angeles area spiritual group. Also acting as the group's official videographer, he began to document their activities, which centered on the mysterious leader they called Michel, or The Teacher. Over time, the group's dark side began to surface as total devotion turned to paranoia, until finally, unexpected truths about their enlightened leader were revealed -- all in front of Allen's camera. This incredible, 22-year archive of video footage became the basis for HOLY HELL. Now, for the first time since he left the group, Allen turns the camera on himself and asks fellow ex-cult members to come to terms with their past and the unbelievable deceit they experienced.

73%

TOMATOMETER
Average 6.2
Reviews 37
Fresh 27
Rotten 10

Information

Studio
Very Special Projects
Released
2016
Run Time
1 hr 42 min
Rated
Sans classification
Region of Origin
United States
© 2016 WRA Productions, LLC

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (United States)

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French (France)

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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
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  • Belarus
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  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
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  • República Dominicana
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