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Hell House

Play trailer Poster for Hell House 2002 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Filmmaker George Ratliff explores the bizarre phenomenon of Halloween "hell houses": evangelical fright fests that use grisly skits to demonstrate the consequences of homosexuality, abortion, drug use and other condemned behaviors. This documentary chronicles a full performance season at the original hell house in Dallas -- which boasts an annual audience of more than 10,000 people -- and investigates whether its organizers go too far in their attempt to save souls.

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Hell House

Hell House

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Critics Consensus

A fascinating, even-handed account of Hell Houses.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich ToxicUniverse.com 05/25/2003
4/5
Perhaps it is as Albert Einstein said, 'Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.' Go to Full Review
V.A. Musetto New York Post 11/15/2002
3/4
Frightening, well-done documentary. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr New York Times 11/14/2002
3/5
As a director, Mr. Ratliff wisely rejects the temptation to make fun of his subjects. Go to Full Review
Steve Biodrowski ESplatter 07/22/2008
Even if you do not agree with the message that the Hell House haunt is purveying, you will find the Hell House documentary fascinating. Go to Full Review
Jason Gorber Film Scouts 06/21/2007
A-
The tour of the house itself is a surreal mix of cheap gore and religious zeal. It's a penetrating look into life in rural Texas, and a thoroughly enjoyable, disturbing, and darkly-funny film to watch. Go to Full Review
Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) 02/18/2007
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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10/31/2013 Accurately portrays the sheer lunacy of some fundamentalist christians See more 10/13/2013 it's very interesting to watch all these fundamentalist churchgoers playing god while reinforcing their roots of bigotry,hate,judgmentalism and homophobia at the same time...I guess,in the end,THEY ARE THE FREAKS. See more 06/24/2013 ajale! aplicando las técnicas de conversión de los Sacerdotes Católicos que llegaron a América a mediados del siglo pasado¡? bueno, si funciono esa vez, porque no ahora? See more 05/11/2013 incredibly sad and more frightening than any halloween horror movie See more 04/15/2013 An open window to a church community's salvation-themed haunted house. The direction seems neutral in message and allows the audience to make its own determinations. Quite tame. See more 03/31/2013 A documentary that looks at the "Hell House" performed annually in October by the youth members of Trinity Church (Assemblies of God) in Cedar Hill, Texas. See more Read all reviews
Hell House

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker George Ratliff explores the bizarre phenomenon of Halloween "hell houses": evangelical fright fests that use grisly skits to demonstrate the consequences of homosexuality, abortion, drug use and other condemned behaviors. This documentary chronicles a full performance season at the original hell house in Dallas -- which boasts an annual audience of more than 10,000 people -- and investigates whether its organizers go too far in their attempt to save souls.
Director
George Ratliff
Producer
Selina Lewis Davidson, Zachary Mortensen, George Ratliff
Production Co
GreenHouse Pictures, Mixed Greens Media, Cantina Pictures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 4, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2017
Runtime
1h 25m
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