Let's Start a Cult

Let's Start A Cult
Directed by	Ben Kitnick
Written by	Ben Kitnick Stavros Halkias Wes Haney
Produced by	RoseMary Prodonovich Josh Hunnicutt Greg Newman
Starring	Stavros Halkias Katy Fullan Wes Haney
Cinematography	Jason Chiu
Edited by	Tynan DeLong
Music by	Joseph Stevens
Production company	Queensbury Pictures
Distributed by	Dark Sky Films
Release date	October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Let's Start A Cult is a 2024 dark comedy film that stars Stavros Halkias and was directed by Ben Kitnick.

Plot

In 2000, a cult lead by William Davenport record a series of video interviews before committing mass suicide. Chip Harper, an obese, crass cult member, is made to sleep in a barn with no electricity and a makeshift raccoon trap. On the day of their "transcendence", a celebration is ruined by Chip's antics and he is tasked to deliver the videotape to the press. Failing to do so, Chip returns to find the group on the floor, having completed the ritual without him.

Three months later, Chip is living with his parents while working for his uncle's company selling gravel. He learns on the news that the bodies of his former cult have been discovered, except for William, who is thought to be alive and is wanted for murder. After investigating, Harper manages to track down his former leader and finds him working as a clown at children's birthday parties. As Chip confronts him, William claims he died but was resurrected for the sole purpose of reconnecting with Chip so that they may start a new cult.

Chip begins to act as a clown-in-training with William as they devise a plan to make money and begin to recruit members. After a disastrous performance, they hit the road and find a U.S. Marines recruitment office. Outside they meet Tyler, a young man who was rejected from the military for a bone disorder. They also meet Diane, a mentally unhinged single mother who isn't allowed to see her son, at a bed and breakfast. William promises the new group that he will take them to a new compound where they will start a new life together.

On the way, William finds that Chip is taking charge and leading the group in ways he doesn't approve of. While he's asleep, Chip recruits a foreign musician named Jim Smith and takes the group camping. When they finally arrive at the new compound, William discovers that the house he was set to inherit is instead owned by Dorota, a former women's wrestling champion. He tells the group and gives up on starting a cult before Chip confronts the woman himself. After the two start flirting, they have passionate sex and she allows the group to begin staying with her at the house. William dubs Chip the new leader of the cult and records the group worshiping him.

William leaves in the night and claims to authorities that he is an escaped cult member and that Chip has been the true mastermind behind the cult. Dorota fights off police officers and the rest of the group escape. After a confrontation, Chip attempts to drown himself but is saved by Jim, Diane, and Tyler. They set out to find the original tape with the cult's statements to clear Harper's name and out William as the leader. The group goes to the old compound to find William in the middle of an interview with a TV station. Chip uncovers the original tape in the barn and shows it to the news reporter. William then grabs a pair of pliers and puts them to the reporter's neck, threatening to kill her if they don't destroy the tape. Suddenly, William steps on Chip's raccoon trap and a machete falls from the ceiling into the top of his head. Harper laughs and mocks William as he falls forward.

In a montage, we learn that Chip becomes a motivational speaker. He marries Dorota while she's in prison and they have a child together. Diane begins dating Tyler and is allowed to see her son again. The group live together at Dorota's house as a family. William has survived his injury, but has "shit for brains".

Cast

• Stavros Halkias as Chip Harper
• Wes Haney as William Davenport
• Katy Fullan as Diane
• CM Punk as Robbie
• Eric Rahill as Tyler
• Daniel Simonsen as Jim Smith
• Sarafina Vecchio as Dorota
• Ethan Suplee as Cody Harper
• Robert Kelly as Del Harper
• Sarah Charipar as Teri Harper
• Joe Pera as Bo

External links

• Let's Start a Cult at IMDb