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06/24/06
Hell House (2002)
94 %
Reviews Counted: 32 Fresh: 30 Rotten:2 Average Rating: 7.5/10
Consensus:
A fascinating, even-handed account of Hell Houses.
Runtime: 86 mins
Synopsis: George Ratliff's stirring documentary sheds light on one of late-20th Century America's most confounding creations, the Hell House. Providing a bizarre twist on the traditional haunted house formula, Hell Houses are church-funded, elaborately staged productions that trade... [More]
Genre: Education/General Interest
Reviews
Top Critic
I encourage everyone to watch it and discuss the difference between Christ's ministry and the 'ministry' of these high-pressure gospel salesmen.
01/15/05
The whole thing's like a Jack Chick comic tract come to life, and it would be easy to condescend to, but director George Ratliff has not done so.
10/09/03
Perhaps it is as Albert Einstein said, 'Before God we are all equally wise – and equally foolish.'
05/25/03
It is a strength of a documentary to disregard available bias, especially as temptingly easy as it would have been with this premise.
05/08/03
By focusing on the basic decency of these people [Ratliffe] exquisitely captures the irony of a community at odds with its god’s message of unconditional love.
04/05/03
It's up to you to decide whether to admire these people's dedication to their cause or be repelled by their dogmatism, manipulativeness and narrow, fearful view of American life.
03/10/03
A tad controversial, Hell House doesn’t exist to cast stones, but rather document their hurlers.
01/16/03
A life-size reenactment of those Jack Chick cartoon tracts that always ended with some hippie getting tossed into the lake of fire.
01/08/03
Despite what anyone believes about the goal of its makers, the show ... represents a spectacular piece of theater, and there's no denying the talent of the creative forces behind it.
11/19/02
For anyone unfamiliar with pentacostal practices in general and theatrical phenomenon of Hell Houses in particular, it's an eye-opener.
11/14/02
As a director, Mr. Ratliff wisely rejects the temptation to make fun of his subjects.
11/14/02
Top Critic
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