HBO is well-known for its riveting and insightful documentaries, like the gut-wrenching At the Heart of Gold, which brought to light the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, and the docuseries sensation The Vow, which exposed the sex-trafficking NXIVM cult. Now the HBO Max streaming service is delivering even more incredible true crime content on December 3rd, with a 4-part docuseries called Heaven's Gate: Cult of Cults.
Heaven's Gate was a religious cult founded in San Diego, California back in 1974. The leaders of this peculiar organization were Marshall Applewhite—also known as "Do"—and Bonnie Nettles—also known as "Ti." The group believed that the Earth would soon be wiped clean, and in order to survive on with their consciousness or soul, they would have to ascend to Heaven via a spacecraft. In order to obtain this eternal life, 39 members, including Applewhite himself, took part in a ritual mass suicide on March 26th, 1997.
Related: 13 Fascinating UFO Books for Believers and Skeptics Alike
The docuseries will cover the events leading up to the largest mass suicide on U.S. soil, including the intense brain washing, the erratic behavior of the enigmatic cult leaders, and the willing castrations performed on several of the cultists. With never before seen footage and shocking first-person accounts, the series will explore how intelligent and well-off individuals succumbed to the belief that they would transform into aliens and fly off through the stars to the "next level" of Heaven.
Related: 6 Killer Cults That Shocked the World
Take a look at the mind-blowing trailer below, and tune into Heaven's Gate: the Cult of Cults on Thursday, December 3rd.
Featured image of "Heaven's Gate: Cult of Cult" via HBO Max
