Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)
Documentary
Stream itif you want a meticulously researched and genuinely unsettling investigation into institutional manipulation and psychological control.
A chilling and meticulous investigation that plays like a psychological thriller. It is unsettling to watch the manipulation of faith, making it essential viewing for those interested in power dynamics and social control.
What it is about
The film profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, shining a light on how they attract true believers and the things they do in the name of religion.
Trailer
What Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film feels like observing a high-stakes psychological thriller rather than a dry lecture. The pacing is deliberate and relentless, building a palpable sense of dread as it peels back layers of organisational secrecy. It balances intimate talking-head testimonies with archival footage to create a dense, information-heavy, and increasingly claustrophobic atmosphere that captures the gravity of its subject matter.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is essential viewing for anyone fascinated by social engineering, power structures, and the fragility of the human ego. However, those sensitive to accounts of systemic harassment or psychological abuse should proceed with caution. It is a grim, heavy-duty piece of investigative filmmaking that demands your full attention; do not expect a light or comforting exposé.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet night when you are prepared to engage with a challenging and complex subject. It is perfect for an evening of deep intellectual curiosity and post-watch discussion.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
How Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Expect to feel deeply unsettled and hyper-aware of how easily the human need for belonging can be exploited. It leaves a heavy, lingering sense of indignation and intellectual exhaustion.
How Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
The film concludes by detailing allegations of systemic abuse and misconduct under David Miscavige, including the imprisonment of executives in "The Hole" and the surveillance of critics. It highlights the experiences of former Scientologists who report being harassed and intimidated. The narrative focuses on high-profile members, asserting that Nicole Kidman was targeted for wiretapping to break her marriage to Tom Cruise after being labelled a "potential trouble source".
The film closes by stating that John Travolta is forced to remain in the organisation due to the fear that secrets from his personal life will be exposed. These accounts from former members, such as Mark Rathbun and Mike Rinder, serve to contrast official church statements with the reported experiences of its members. This settles the film’s thesis by detailing the purported methods used to maintain control over both high-profile celebrities and subordinates.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
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Questions people ask
- Is Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief a tense documentary?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tense, with an authentic streak. A chilling and meticulous investigation that plays like a psychological thriller. It is unsettling to watch the manipulation of faith, making it essential viewing for those interested in power dynamics and social control.
- How long is Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief?
- Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief runs 120 min and was released in 2015.
- Where can I watch Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief in Canada?
- In Canada it is not included with any subscription service at the moment. JustWatch lists rental and purchase options.
- Is Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief worth watching?
- Stream it: if you want a meticulously researched and genuinely unsettling investigation into institutional manipulation and psychological control. IMDb users rate it 8.0 out of 10 from 42,081 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 95%, Metacritic 80 and TMDB users 7.6.
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Stills
Images from TMDB.
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