Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Holy Hell

  • 20162016
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
22,493
2,828
Jamie Simone Gomez in Holy Hell (2016)
An inside look at a West Hollywood cult formed by a charismatic teacher in the 1980s that eventually imploded.
Play trailer2:23
1 Video
5 Photos
DocumentaryDrama
An inside look at Buddhafield, a West Hollywood cult formed by a charismatic teacher in the 1980s that eventually imploded.An inside look at Buddhafield, a West Hollywood cult formed by a charismatic teacher in the 1980s that eventually imploded.An inside look at Buddhafield, a West Hollywood cult formed by a charismatic teacher in the 1980s that eventually imploded.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
22,493
2,828
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Will Allen
    • Stars
      • Will Allen
      • Dimitrius Pulido
      • Phillipe Coquet
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Will Allen
    • Stars
      • Will Allen
      • Dimitrius Pulido
      • Phillipe Coquet
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 75User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Official Trailer

    Photos

    Holy Hell (2016)
    Jamie Simone Gomez in Holy Hell (2016)
    Holy Hell (2016)
    Holy Hell Sundance 2016, director Will Allen and producers Alexandra Johnes & Tracey Harnish

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Allen
    Will Allen
    • Self
    • (as William Francesco Allen)
    Dimitrius Pulido
    • Self
    Phillipe Coquet
    Phillipe Coquet
    • Self
    David Christopher
    David Christopher
    • Self
    Amy Allen
    Amy Allen
    • Self
    Cristala Allen
    Cristala Allen
    • Self
    Gina Allen
    Gina Allen
    • Self
    Jennifer Baca
    Jennifer Baca
    • Self
    Alessandra Burenin
    Alessandra Burenin
    • Self
    Vera Cheiffo
    Vera Cheiffo
    • Self
    Radhia Gleis
    Radhia Gleis
    • Self
    Julian Goldstein
    Julian Goldstein
    • Self
    Jamie Simone Gomez
    Jamie Simone Gomez
    • Self - Buddhafield cult leader
    • (archive footage)
    Greg Gorey
    Greg Gorey
    • Self
    Murti Hower
    Murti Hower
    • Self
    Chris Johnston
    Chris Johnston
    • Self
    Danielle Lefemine
    Danielle Lefemine
    • Self
    Ronald Reagan
    Ronald Reagan
    • Self - U.S. President
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Will Allen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Source Family
    6.8
    The Source Family
    Prophet's Prey
    7.2
    Prophet's Prey
    Jesus Camp
    7.4
    Jesus Camp
    Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
    6.7
    Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
    Children of God
    6.3
    Children of God
    Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
    7.8
    Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
    Holy Hell
    3.9
    Holy Hell
    Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief
    8.0
    Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief
    Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult
    7.5
    Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult
    Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults
    7.2
    Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults
    Deliver Us from Evil
    7.9
    Deliver Us from Evil
    The Vow
    7.0
    The Vow

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Will Allen joined the cult when he was 22, after he was forced to leave home when his mother discovered he was gay.
    • Quotes

      Chris Johnston: There's this social interplay that happens between highly codependent people and pathological narcissists. Who is going to give a person who needs constant adoration and attention, who is going to give that to them, ceaselessly? Somebody who relies on him as the source of their self-esteem. And they'll say, "You seem like a normal, rational, intelligent human being. How did this happen to you?"... It's what we do every time we come into a religion. We take on their beliefs as truth. You will do anything to defend that truth. You subjugate your best interests to the interests of the religion, the group, the corporation... And so, the better you feel, the more you get committed. And then, somebody can get you to do anything. I mean, I would have killed or died for him. It's so common, it's everywhere. Look around you, you've got a cult in your town, I almost guarantee you.

    • Crazy credits
      Closing song written and performed by _Cabot Budlong_ former member for 20 years. Abused, still surviving...
    • Connections
      Features Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    • Soundtracks
      Hooked on a Feeling
      Written by Francis Zambon (as Mark James)

      Performed by B.J. Thomas

      Courtesy of Scepter Records

    User reviews75

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    The Psychosis of Adulation and The Damage Inflicted from Dependency
    Will Allen courageously confronts the demons of his past experiences, bolstered by the testimonies and anecdotes of his fellow brothers and sisters within the cult, in order to broadcast to an audience the horrors of misguided idolatry and to, hopefully, teach others to look optimistically at one's tribulations as a step towards achieving fulfillment in the post-trauma phase of life.

    "Holy Hell" is a hellish and nightmarish documentary focusing on the cult known as the Buddhafield, initially a blissful and energetic community of people gathering together to learn and receive the wisdom of their master. This man had many names; and yet, no one seems to have known anything about him for the vast duration of their time spent under his instruction. As his demeanor and temper become increasingly dramatic and feverish; his appearance slowly shifting and morphing into something hideous; the enlightenment that was promised from the beginning seems to be gradually fading from the grasp of the enslaved acolytes.

    I felt an overwhelming empathy for these people. They were lost. They were burdened by various desires and yearnings. They wanted profound answers to their far-reaching questions; unfortunately for these beautiful people, what they were given instead was a journey across immense stretches of land for nothing more than the satiation the narcissistic fancies and pipe dreams of a vile human being. Thankfully those featured in this documentary appear to be in a better place. I commend them, because I would never have survived what they had to endure for so many years. I wish you all the best.
    helpful•8
    1
    • AndrewB686
    • Jun 19, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 27, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Святой ад
    • Filming locations
      • Oahu, Hawaii, USA
    • Production companies
      • WRA Productions
      • Very Special Projects
      • Whitewater Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $18,051
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,238
      • May 29, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,051
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Jamie Simone Gomez in Holy Hell (2016)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Holy Hell (2016) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Double Take: Celebrity Twins
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Back to top
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.