My quick rating - 6.8/10. Every city has that one club that grows into more than just a venue—it becomes a sanctuary. For Dallas, that was The Church, the goth/industrial mainstay that opened in 1994 and welcomed generations of misfits. Dark Sanctuary: The Story of The Church, directed by Timothy Stevens, tells how it came to life, what it meant to its community, and why its legacy still matters.
The story begins with Don Nedler, who first ran the Lizard Lounge in Dallas before trying his luck in Miami. That attempt failed, but not before he discovered Velvet, a club with a darker night called “Church.” Returning home, he reimagined the idea and struck gold. The Church’s slogan—“Enter without prejudice”—wasn’t just marketing. It was a promise: gender, orientation, or taste didn’t matter. If you didn’t belong anywhere else, you belonged here.
When I first got to Dallas, checking out Deep Ellum’s music and nightlife scene was mandatory. Being a fan of KMFDM, Ministry, and Skinny Puppy, The Church felt like a natural stop. This documentary finally shows how the place came together. Interviews with figures like Bill Leeb of Front Line Assembly and Patrick Codenys of Front 242 add weight, while DJ Joe Virus, one of the club’s key players, anchors much of the story.
The film touches briefly on the stereotype that goth culture is tied to suicide, but thankfully doesn’t linger. More compelling are the supernatural stories—like Joe Virus’s encounters with a ghost on stage, and the possibly haunted chandelier, surprisingly bought back for only $7,000. The Church also embraced the fetish scene with its legendary Fetish Ball, pulling in the BDSM community while staying true to its “all are welcome” ethos.
Watching this brought me back to other underground clubs I’ve hunted down over the years. Purgatory outside of Ft Lauderdale was a blast. Miami had Club Hell, which you could only find if locals pointed you toward Club Cream first. Chicago offered Nocturna at the Metro, and another short-lived spot simply called Hell. Like The Church, each carried that same mix of secrecy, freedom, and community. I've noticed while checking for links that most of these no longer exist.
Naturally, COVID shows up in the final act, and as expected, it shuttered the venue. At least the community was invited back for one last farewell. Today, the It’ll Do Club carries the torch, though anyone who stepped inside the original knows that vibe can’t be copied. Don't miss your chance to visit your favorite, you never know when it will be gone.
Stevens does a good job threading the history and personalities, though the documentary plays things a bit safe, considering the wild stories that likely stayed behind closed doors. Still, as a time capsule of a place where outsiders finally felt at home, Dark Sanctuary captures the spirit of a club that mattered.
https://jackmeat.com/dark-sanctuary-the-story-of-the-church-2025/
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