By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: George Ratliff
Country: united_states
Year: 2002
Running time: 85
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0301235
Michael says: “Scot and I traveled to a place that is thoroughly alien to me tonight: a Pentacostal church in Texas. Director George Ratliff has constructed a fascinating film about Texas’ infamous ‘Hell House.’ This haunted house, now running over ten years every Halloween graphically depicts the fates of those who turn from Jesus toward such evils as drugs, alcohol, domestic
violence, homosexuality and suicide. Hmmm…
“Ratliff does an amazing job in presenting the facts about Hell House and its creators in an even-handed, unbiased manner. Throughout this near-90 minute film, we get to know the Reverend and his parishioners who put Hell House together, see the auditions and rehearsals and finally parts of the haunted house itself. I was thoroughly chilled as I spent time with these people. And yet by letting the viewers get to know some of the people involved in this event, he shows how this extreme (to me) faith has saved them from violence and self-destruction. One single father in particular was portrayed poignantly dealing with his five children, one of which struggle with cerebral palsy, and how the Trinity Church really saved his life when his family life fell apart. And then, there was the shocking inclusion of the Columbine massacre as part of a past Hell House.
“I read one complaint that the filmmaker did little to debunk the church’s way of thinking, but I disagree with that complaint strongly. This film will not change a viewers way of thinking, whether they are for or against this way of thought, so any attempt to make a judgement would be useless, and undercut the film as a documentary. I was pleased that there was a lot of disbelieving laughter in the screening we attended. It really is a fascinating film, and I recommend it for everyone, especially the Documentary Sub-Committee. It truly is a chilling piece of work.”4 cats
Rob says: “File this disturbing documentary under ‘the truth is stranger than fiction.’ Every year for Halloween, members of Cedar Hill, Texas’ Trinity Church stage ‘Hell House,’ an unflinching, cautionary haunted happening which depicts modern-day ‘sins’ such as suicide, abortion and homosexuality and the eternal punishment that the unrepentant will receive. As did the
directors of the Neo-Nazi exposé BLOOD IN THE FACE, director George Ratliff does the wise thing and just lets the camera run as these unflappable Pentecostal troupers for Jesus do most of the work in painting a vivid and creepy portrait. Fans of CRUMB
and AMERICAN MOVIE will surely want to check this one out, as will advocates of free and critical thought.”