Ultrachrist! (2003)

Director:
Kerry Dye

Written by:
Kerry Dye
Jordan Hoffman



Ultrachrist! is a bit of a mixed bag. It's a very low budget movie that overcomes its limited resources by working well with what it has. It is also marred by poor acting and a third act that falls flat.

The premise is fairly simple: Jesus Christ (Jonathan Greene) comes back as per prophecy. Realizing that he is woefully out of touch with today's youth, he decides to change his image. He dons a super-hero getup and takes to the streets to fight sin wherever he sees it. Jesus ultimately must battle the anti-Christ who is posing as the most powerful of men, the NYC Parks Commissioner (Samuel Campbell).

The movie takes a decidedly farcical approach and has some legitimately funny moments. The script is often clever, such as Jesus's warning regarding self-pleasure: "The circle of Hell reserved for perpetual wankers is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to spend eternity there."

The acting isn't great, but it's much better than movies with similar production value. The dialog seems only occasionally stilted, and the performances are energetic. Greene plays a likeable Christ coming into his own. His naive approach to things leads him to consider why harmless sin should be a sin at all.

The humor is lightweight in terms of both style (friendly and silly), and theology. There are few jokes that require more than the most basic knowledge of the Bible. The simplicity of the humor generally works well for the movie. There is some blasphemy, however the script is largely inoffensive. Religious beliefs are poked, but not assaulted.

Ultrachrist! does go downhill pretty fast in the last act, however. Religious humor is abandoned for boring slapstick and hijinks. The end of the movie is disappointing at best and undermines everything that came before it.

All in all, Ultrachrist! makes decent light fare if you want to watch an irreverent and simple movie. Given proper expectations, the movie can be enjoyable, but its weaknesses prevent it from being anything more.

Hell House (2001)

Director:
George Ratliff



Hell House is one of the most even-handed documentaries to address religion. Filmed in Cedar Hill, Texas, the movie focuses on one pentecostal church's annual Halloween production. The camera follows the event from planning, to production, to execution.

The filmmakers did a great job of creating a multi-faceted view of what goes on. They follow different families, show us some examples of the church's service, allows individuals to address the audience directly, and give you a thorough look at the community without seeming too invasive. The director takes a backseat entirely and lets the actual events speak for themselves. You won't find pretentious edits, pompous antics, or sanctimonious commentary.

It is the kind of film that can be enjoyed by different people for drastically different reasons. Those who support Trinity Church and what they do are likely to enjoy a behind the scenes perspective. The documentary shows a struggling family fall back on faith (yet still call paramedics), a young girl describing her views on dating, and an explanation of speaking in tongues.



Those who are appalled at the exploitative and depraved nature of Hell Houses will be shocked by how casually they're handled. There is an overjoyed celebration of landing the "abortion girl" role as well as a description of the blatantly racist founding of the pentecostal movement.


And those who enjoy a good laugh will appreciate stupidity of enormous proportions. From trying to name the "official" date rape drug, to people speaking their "love language to the Lord," to their occult scene pentagram.

The one detracting factor is not the fault of the filmmakers, but of the people the scene involves. There is a small section of an argument between one of the people running the Hell House and a pack of ignorant kids. These kids are the only real voice of dissent to be found in the movie, and they could not have done worse. Granted, they were just in the right place at the right time, but they don't do logic any favors and serve largely to validate the church's view of the outside world.

Hell House is a very good documentary about a very interesting subject. It demonstrates exactly what goes on to put together such a shocking and extreme production in a highly unbiased manner.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Director:
Robin Hardy

Written by:
Anthony Shaffer



The Wicker Man, while not necessarily an atheistic film, is a film that every atheist should see. Beyond a well written and beautifully shot movie is an indictment of religion that manages to be critical while staying fairly objective.

The story revolves around Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward), a British officer who travels to Summerisle to find a missing girl after receiving an anonymous letter. Howie discovers the town to be full of pagans who are unhelpful in finding the girl. As an upstanding Christian, he finds their beliefs to be heretical and outdated. His contempt for their culture only increases as he observes preparations for a traditional festival. As the film progresses, Sergeant Howie learns the history of the island, the reason they believe what they do, and the fate of the lost girl.

The film handles belief remarkably well. Neither Howie nor the pagans are caricatures of their religions. Instead, both views are shown in a realistic respect that offers understanding and even empathy.

Sergeant Howie is depicted as a moral man. He is a good officer with a great respect for the law. Despite everything that happens to him, he never wavers in his beliefs. He resists temptation both of will and flesh. Of particular note is a scene in which the innkeeper's daughter, Willow (Britt Ekland), sings and dances provocatively in the room next to Howie. The Christian finds himself overcome with lust, but he is repulsed by her sexual confidence and unashamed nature.


While a good man in general, Howie is pious and judgmental. He views Summerisle as a backwards place inhabited by foolish heretics. He does not understand their traditions and does not care to. He knows that his lord is the only truth.

Upon meeting Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), the Sergeant learns the roots of the island's paganism. Summerisle explains the necessity of their belief system. It is a means not to control the people, but to encourage them and offer hope. It also provides a way to handle the hardships that would otherwise cripple them. In an expertly crafted dialog, Lord Summerisle expresses his own disbelief, his appreciation for the good belief can do, and an acknowledgment of its potential harm.

The film strikes a balance that is rarely seen. Religion is depicted in a realistic and critical light, but the filmmakers at no point go out of their way to villanize one side or another. It offers a respectful understanding of belief that does not go too far to lend deference.

The Wicker Man has a meticulous and brilliant approach to religious subject matter. The film succeeds not only in this respect, but in all. The photography and music are hauntingly good, and the acting is top notch. This film should be highly recommended to film lovers and mandatory for atheists.