JULY 2016, WEST HOLLYWOOD: There is a new cult movie coming about a Gay bodybuilder (left) who runs around in his underpants and claims to be godlike in a cult he calls "Buddafield." Although I, the Angry Gay Pope, appreciate any cult leader who runs around in speedos showing visible penis lines, it's still a cult! It all appears to be flakey new age fun and games until the paranoia, forced plastic surgery, thought control and attempted murders start happening. Amazingly, a lot of this happened right here in West Hollywood where I live. I even used to live on the same street as this group! Hopefully the movie will put pressure on the cult, which still exists in Hawaii in smaller form.  Sadly, many cults never seem to truly die, especially if they have money.  They just burn down to a tiny ember that just won't go away.  I wonder how Scientology will end.

Fortunately the cult leader of Buddafield lacked Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's money making genius, his ability to drag out the con and constantly upsell upsell upsell.  Buddafield seems more about cult of personality rather than a giant pyramid scheme of multi-level marketing that is Scientology.   Like a haunted house vs. a James Bond villain.

I found out about the documentary from its exec producer Julian Goldstein (right).  I fix his family's computers. Yes his biceps are huge but his heart is his biggest muscle by far.  He tells me that his experience with the group was mostly positive which puzzles me because the movie is called HOLY HELL.  But I refuse to ask him more about it until I see the movie. I don't want it spoiled.  Julian has a fascinating life story.  After fleeing the group he, and multiple others including director Will Allen, spent the last two years telling the story of Buddafield.  This is very commendable of them, firstly because investigative journalism in America has collapsed and if you don't tell the story yourself it won't get told, trust me!  But mostly, it is VERY HARD to tell your own personal story about anything.  But it is even harder when you are decompressing and un-brainwashing yourself at the same time. Rather like writing on the label when you are still in the jar.  It can also compromise journalistic issues because the subject and the filmmaker are one and the same.

Julian is a wonderful, caring guy who founded Thrive Tribe, a social and medical organization helping men (such as myself) who are HIV+ but otherwise thriving.  He has worked in entertainment for many years, having sold his first show to the Travel Channel and having served as a host of CNN’s nationally syndicated Real News for Kids for four years. In 2007, after 19 years, he left the group and began a search for his identity outside of this community. He traveled alone to New Zealand, Australia Europe, Asia and the Middle East on a four-year journey.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.holyhellthedocumentary.com

COMING TO ITUNES:  http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/holyhell/

I haven't seen the movie yet but feel confident in recommending it to you, dear reader, because it got  a good review in the New York Times.  The paper mentions "No one gets punched in “Holy Hell.” But during a late scene in this documentary, I thought its subject was about to get socked in the kisser. Reader, forgive me — I even wanted it to happen." The review does mention, however, that the filmmakers were too close to their subject as I  alluded to earlier..