Surely, once you see “Going Clear” you’ll have no doubt that it’s a terrifying religion filled with a horrific history, but watched side by side with a film like “Jesus Camp,” and there’s not much a difference. Scientology is just an in vogue religion that’s managed to use its legal force and strong arms to keep the lid about its sordid history tight for many years. “Going Clear” is the really explosive expose of the church of Scientology, an institution that’s garnered considerable influence over the world since its inception.
If you don’t really fear what Scientology is capable of, it’s a religion that rakes in billions and has victimized many for the sake of protecting its own mysterious inner sanctum. It’s also harbored an immense grip on Hollywood’s most illustrious and influential players like John Travolta, and Tom Cruise, all of whom have managed to prove themselves soldiers for the Scientology movement. “Going Clear” is an up front and very honest portrayal of the birth of scientology and the scandalous history of its found L. Ron Hubbard. It depicts Hubbard as nothing more than a failed soldier who gained god like status by inventing a religion that served as a means of feeding his own ego and lack of psychological structure. Deep down through it all though, “Going Clear” watches like any expose about religion.
Scientology has found ways to exempt itself from the IRS, and uses its prophet to commit heinous acts. “Going Clear” takes a no holds barred approach to exploring the church of Scientology, delving deep in to the practices of its members, and the wicked leaders that its bred after the death of L. Ron Hubbard. There are also really eerie depictions of how they’ve used violence to strong arm members in to bowing to their whims. The most interesting moments though involve the story of John Travolta and Tom Cruise, and how they were engineered to become prime members of the institution. Director Alex Gibney implements a lot of footage of Cruise and his horrifying devotion to the church.
He even features the infamous interview where Cruise is inexplicably driven to loud hysterical cackling at the mere notion of discussing Scientology. You can accuse “Going Clear” of being one sided, but Gibney and co. make it painfully clear that all efforts to reach out to the church for their own side were rejected. This, more than anything, stands as a testament to their shifty practices, and even shiftier end goal. “Going Clear” doesn’t really have the answers, but it meticulously unfolds the experience of being both a member and an ex-member, and asks the audience to consider how to be wary of an organization often laughed off by most in the media. “Going Clear” is a startling glimpse at one of the many institutions gripping the world, and it has to be seen.