In the perplexing subculture of UFO beliefs, individuals with cult-like followings and frequent claims associated with dubious “whistleblowers” aren’t uncommon. But how can you separate genuine voices from those leveraging UFO lore for personal or financial gain?

In a new documentary, Dark Alliance: The Inside Story of the Cosmic Con, filmmaker Darcy Weir dives into one section of the UFO counterculture, narrowing in on two well-known figures: David Wilcock and Corey Goode, presenting them as case studies in manipulation and the spread of misinformation within the UFO community and its associated areas of belief.

In Dark Alliance, Weir takes his viewers on a journey of exploration into how these two controversial figures came to fool not only the community they serve, but also some of the people who brought them to the top.

However, the cautionary tale Weir presents is far from new: the events he chronicles echo the actions of cults and similar groups from over the years, many of which bear a resemblance to some of today’s alleged UFO whistleblowers, self-proclaimed insiders, and cult leaders.

UFO Cults Through the Years

According to psychologist Dr. Steve Eichel, there may be up to 10,000 cults currently operating in America, ranging from those focused on religion, to political groups, and even doomsday cults.

UFO-themed cults, while fewer in number, have nonetheless also been a prevalent fixture in American culture since the years after World War II. Among these, William A. Ferguson founded a religious cult called the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship, elements of which were detailed in his 1947 book My Trip to Mars.