The aliens are coming in the trailer for the upcoming true crime documentary series, Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults. The series, arriving on HBO Max December 3, explores the infamous UFO death cult named Heaven’s Gate that resulted in the biggest group suicide on American Soil, via Indiewire.
Heaven’s Gate dates all the way back to the 1970s, when its two leaders Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles met. The rest is history as they created the Heaven’s Gate religious group in California, a cult that believed there were UFOs and alien life form out there waiting to be discovered. It led to several group members committing mass suicide in 1997, causing an uproar in the media as people across America were shocked and disturbed. Believing death was just the beginning of the journey and not the end, what occurred within Heaven’s Gate led to a brand new strain of suspicion amongst the public regarding religious groups and cults.
The new documentary series coming to HBO Max on December 3 will present brand new audio recordings and video footage never before seen or heard. It delves into the background of various members that were part of the death cult. Interviewing family members of the deceased, the documentary aims to grasp an understanding of what could have led to such a heinous crime. How did dozens of seemingly average Americans become brainwashed, and why did they believe taking their own lives would be the solution to their problems?
The series also delves into the two infamous leaders of the cult, Applewhite and Nettles. Exploring their origins, it will examine how their teachings led to incomprehensible bloodshed.
Heaven’s Gate was originally a podcast that aired in 2017. Investigating all aspects of the death cult, it includes interviews with the daughter of cult leader Nettles, family of the deceased , and members of the cult who lived to tell the tale. Consisting of ten episodes, it’s hosted by Glynn Washington and is available wherever you get your podcasts.
Chris Bannon (The Next Big Thing), Eric Spiegelman (Heaven’s Gate), Peter Clowney (This American Life) and CEO of Sticher Erik Diehn will be representing digital media company Stitcher as executive producers of the show. It’s also executive produced by Cary Tweel (Gleeson), Ross Dinerstein (The Innocent Man), Amy Antelis (Anthony Bordain: No Reservations), Shannon Riggs (Super 8), and Lyle Gamm (Secret Lives of Americans). CNN Original Studios and Campfire produce.
Directed by Tweel, all four episodes of the series will be made available to stream in its entirety December 3.
Watch the trailer for Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cult’s below. Beware of flying saucers.