The story of Let's Start a Cult
Let's Start a Cult opens on a premise that's genuinely dark: our protagonist has missed out on his cult's long-awaited ritual suicide. Not exactly a feel-good setup. But here's where the film pivots — instead of wallowing in that failure, he teams up with his bogus ex-messiah to rebuild their doomsday commune from scratch. What follows is a road movie through middle America where these two constantly-bickering misfits recruit an assortment of lost souls: a military wannabe, a mentally unstable mom, and a mysterious foreign hitchhiker. The 90-minute runtime doesn't waste time on exposition. It's all momentum and personality, following this ragtag family as they chase transcendence while slowly discovering that maybe, just maybe, this life might be worth living after all.
Behind the making of Let's Start a Cult
Director Ben Kitnick helmed this 2024 comedy alongside co-writers Stavros Halkias and Wes Haney, who also star in the film. The production brought together Queensbury Pictures and Dark Sky Films, a pairing that suggests the filmmakers weren't interested in polishing this into mainstream acceptability — Dark Sky Films has built a reputation for backing bold, unconventional horror and genre work. The ensemble cast includes Katy Fullan, Eric Rahill, and Daniel Simonsen, actors who don't carry the weight of major studio franchises and therefore bring a scrappy authenticity to their roles. What's striking is that this isn't a big-budget studio comedy trying to capitalize on cult aesthetics for shock value. Instead, it's a smaller, independent production that trusts its premise and its performers to carry the weight of the story. The IMDb rating of 5.6 out of 10 suggests the film isn't universally beloved — which, honestly, tracks for a comedy this deliberately weird. Not every audience is looking for a film that treats doomsday recruitment as a vehicle for character development.
What makes Let's Start a Cult stand out
The performances are what anchor this thing. Halkias and Haney have chemistry that feels lived-in, the kind of bickering partnership you can believe has survived years of failed apocalypses and recruitment drives. What's interesting is how the film uses comedy not as a distraction from its darker premise but as the actual mechanism for exploring it — these characters aren't tragic because they're in a cult, they're funny because they're desperately trying to make meaning out of chaos. One reviewer noted that Halkias's tendency to crack himself up works better in a scripted space where his laughter could be controlled, and that observation hits at something real about ensemble comedy: it's not always about the individual performer's stand-up chops, it's about how they fit into the machine. The film doesn't shy away from the absurdity of cult dynamics — the power plays, the desperate belief, the way charisma can convince people to follow you into the desert. But it also refuses to make these characters purely objects of ridicule. They're trying. They're failing. They're learning. That's the actual story buried underneath the doomsday setup, and it's what separates Let's Start a Cult from a dozen other indie comedies that would've just played the weirdness for cheap laughs.
Where to stream Let's Start a Cult online
Let's Start a Cult is currently available on major OTT services, and you can check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page to see exactly which platforms are carrying it in your region right now. The film's distribution across streaming services means it's accessible without a theatrical hunt, which is fitting for a comedy this deliberately niche. Movie OTT tracks availability across all major platforms in real time, so if you're trying to figure out whether it's on your current subscription, that's the place to check. The good news is that with streaming's reach, you don't have to wait for a cable premiere or a midnight showing at an indie theater — if you're curious about a film about cult recruitment and middle-American misfits, you can watch it tonight.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Let's Start a Cult?
Ben Kitnick directed the film, with Stavros Halkias and Wes Haney serving as co-writers alongside Kitnick. Halkias and Haney also star in the movie, giving them creative control across multiple roles in the production.
Q: How long is Let's Start a Cult?
The film runs 90 minutes, a tight runtime that keeps the momentum moving without overstaying its welcome on the central premise.
Q: Is Let's Start a Cult based on a true story?
No, it's an original screenplay. While the film engages with real dynamics of cult recruitment and belief systems, the story and characters are fictional creations designed to explore those themes through comedy.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for Let's Start a Cult?
The film currently holds a 5.6 out of 10 rating on IMDb, reflecting mixed audience reception — typical for a comedy this deliberately unconventional and willing to sit with uncomfortable subject matter.
Q: Who stars in Let's Start a Cult?
Stavros Halkias and Wes Haney lead the cast, supported by Katy Fullan, Eric Rahill, and Daniel Simonsen in key ensemble roles that build out the ragtag commune.
Final thoughts on Let's Start a Cult
Let's Start a Cult isn't trying to be everyone's cup of tea, and that's exactly why it works. It's a film that understands its audience — people who can laugh at darkness without needing the darkness to be justified or redeemed. The ensemble cast commits fully to the premise, the runtime respects your time, and the script finds genuine character moments buried underneath the absurdist setup. If you're tired of comedies that play it safe, this one's worth your 90 minutes. Check movieott.com to see where it's streaming in your area, and don't go in expecting a feel-good redemption arc. Go in expecting misfits trying their best at the worst possible thing, and you'll find something worth laughing about.