Tribeca Film Fest: ‘My Scientology Movie’ Doc Gets Church’s Intimidation Tactics on Film

Louis Theroux in "My Scientology Movie"
Louis Theroux in “My Scientology Movie”

Louis Theroux gets current Scientologists on film in “My Scientology Movie,” a documentary in which he appears but does not direct. (It’s directed by Theroux’s co-screenwriter, John Dower.) There is footage of members of the church calling former member Marty Rathbun a “suppressive person” and harassing him as he arrives at an airport.

There is also footage of church members filming Theroux as he makes his documentary and demanding that he turn off his cameras. Theroux, in turn, says he will turn off his if they turn off theirs. The battle of the cameras becomes almost schoolyard absurd.

As he arrives near their land in rural California, they tell him that the road belongs to them, so they call the police. Theroux contends that the road is public and later receives a permit to film there. Members of the church meet him again (all the while filming him while he films them) to claim once again that he’s trespassing on a private road.

Interestingly, the woman who insists Theroux is trespassing is the ex-wife of Jeff Hawkins, one of Theroux’s interviewees, a man who left the church and who corroborates many of Rathbun’s claims. Hawkins contends that his ex, Catherine Fraser, is essentially a good person who has been brainwashed.

There is also footage of a car that appears to have followed Theroux for more than four hours.

Besides these intimidation tactics, much of what is brought to light in “My Scientology Movie” is stuff we’ve heard before, such as claims that people kept in the confined area called “the hole” cannot escape the fences without sensors going off that then set off alarms.

Andrew Perez as David Miscavige in "My Scientology Movie"
Andrew Perez as David Miscavige in “My Scientology Movie”

One of the more interesting devices employed by Theroux is the casting of actors to play David Miscavige (the head of Scientology since L. Ron Hubbard’s death), Tom Cruise, and other members of the church. We’re shown some of the actor auditions, which are done in the presence of Rathbun, who was a top official within the church. You might remember him from Alex Gibney’s film, “Going Clear.”

Once casting is complete, Rathbun directs the actors in reenacting scenes that he experienced while within the church, including violent outbursts by Miscavige. Hawkins tells Theroux about having been beaten by Miscavige on numerous occasions. Of course, the church vehemently denies such violence ever took place. Kudos to actor Andrew Perez, however, who portrays Miscavige with fierce believability.

During production, Theroux received a threatening letter from the church’s lawyers. Somehow, they had heard that he was casting Miscavige with Rathbun present. Was one of the actors a plant, or did one of them talk to someone?

During production, Rathbun proved to be a contentious character who was easily offended by Theroux’s questions, especially when Theroux asked him about being complicit in the physical and emotional violence while he remained in the church. You could take Rathbun’s behavior as evidence that he isn’t credible, or you could take it as a representation of the damage he suffered from Scientology’s grip.

Rathbun says that he can’t have a normal life because the church continues to harass him, as well as his family, and has done so for more than 25 years. Since we see evidence of this on film in “My Scientology Movie,” it’s hard to question him on this point.

If you have an interest in the claims made against Scientology, I recommend this film, which is an interesting progression from “Going Clear.” It’s done with much more humor, but it still packs quite a scathing punch.

Comments

5 responses to “Tribeca Film Fest: ‘My Scientology Movie’ Doc Gets Church’s Intimidation Tactics on Film”

  1. Harold Hinkubah Avatar
    Harold Hinkubah

    “During production, Rathbun proved to be a contentious character who was easily offended by Theroux’s questions, especially when Theroux asked him about being complicit in the physical and emotional violence while he remained in the church. You could take Rathbun’s behavior as evidence that he isn’t credible, or you could take it as a representation of the damage he suffered from Scientology’s grip.”

    Or you could take it as evidence of the kind of behavior that helps you advance to the upper leadership of Scientology.

    David Miscavige (the head of Scientology since L. Ron Hubbard’s death) is misspelled Miscavage in this article.

    1. mvotaw Avatar
      mvotaw

      True. It could be evidence of that as well. Thanks for catching the misspelling. I’ve corrected it. Covering film festivals requires fast and furious writing, and while I try to be meticulous, the exhaustion sometimes causes mistakes to get by.

      1. Harold Hinkubah Avatar
        Harold Hinkubah

        No problem, thank you for reading and responding to my comment. I’ve been a Scientology watcher ever since I read Time magazine’s 1991 cover story about it. I look forward to watching “My Scientology Movie” based on your review. Marty Rathbun’s personality sounds like it might be similar to David Miscavige and L. Ron Hubbard’s and maybe this movie brings that out.

        1. mvotaw Avatar
          mvotaw

          Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far. Certainly, if the way Miscavige is portrayed in this film by the actor is real, he’s way beyond any behavior we see from Rathbun. I think the same could be said of Hubbard, who was way, way out there. Rathbun strikes me as someone who’s simply been through a lot, and perhaps you don’t become a follower of such a religion unless you’ve already been through a lot. Then, after being there, you’re traumatized even further. Then, if you leave, that trauma continues as the church refuses to stop harassing you for leaving.

          1. Harold Hinkubah Avatar
            Harold Hinkubah

            Marty has publicly said he ordered Nicole Kidman’s phone tapped, beat people etc. but he won’t apologize to them. All he does is blame others for the bad things he did as a Scientologist.

            This video interview of Louis Theroux is interesting regarding his confused feelings about Rathbun:

            http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1283738/Louis-Theroux-talks-Daily-Mail-Scientology-Movie.html

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