Holy Ghost People (2013)

Best movie of this year hands down!

A Disappointing Continuation

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

If you were looking for a movie about the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, than this is not it. The message they proclaim is not scriptural. It's funny that a few days ago someone mentioned that there are/is an actual place where things like this take place and then I accidentally stumbled onto this movie... *Spoiler* You can see a woman's breast in the opening scene of this movie.I stopped watching when a guy started getting whipped for his sins in front of a congregation.It felt like something was off when they got to the mountain community even though they have Bible verses painted on things all over the place. This is not a movie about salvation based solely on accepting Jesus as the Son of God and repenting of your sins. Just a warning for those of you who are looking for that kind of a movie. Look up David A.R. White

now randomly finding this movie on Hulu of all places, i had no expectations at all... just bored one Sunday morning and i thoroughly enjoy cult movies, especially if done correctly. in my opinion, Holy Ghost People is a little gem worth watching. the characters didn't need too much explaining, because of the almost poetic narrating in the beginning. i like the way the movie progressed because you think you can predict whats happening, but it quickly changes. i liked that the movie didn't need to be any longer, or any shorter, and even though other people didn't enjoy the ending, or thought it wasn't "flashy" enough, i thought it was completely what was necessary for this particular movie.im excited to see what else this writer comes up with.

Redemption comes to those who seek and others without them even knowing it.One review on here says you are best knowing less about the movie but that really is true for any good thriller, drama and suspenseful movie. Within the title you are already wondering just what your in for let alone what the subject matter might encompass.To tell you why you may want to see this all I want to ask you is:1. Do you like suspense and surprises? 2. DO you like learning about the characters as the story unfolds? 3. Do you enjoy when the atmosphere is set to the tone of the scene? 4. Do you like southern accents?If you answered yes this movie will be wonderful. Taking place in the southern US on in a small town you get know some folks who have possibly not had the best in life and need more from it. We were very surprised by the quality of the camera work, the acting is superb and the cast/roles make the atmosphere something you can never really put a finger on and keeps you guessing until the end. This is a gem of movie for for fans of cop dramas, who done it's, southern style scares and country folk.

"Bless your name, holy Jesus. Satan's shedding' big ol' tears tonight. He's a big boy, ain't he? I call him Satan,cause he's so big and mean. It's these deadly serpents the Lord sent us to handle... without fear. Our hearts are filled with the Holy Ghost. Get on up here, Brother Cole. Satan wants to talk to you.""The Holy Ghost People" is not really a horror, even if the movie poster looks like it and it's a pretty macabre theme. It's more a thriller in which the creepy part is manifested through the religious sphere. Or you get the shivers already by looking at some poisonous rattlesnakes.What makes this movie eerie is the fact that it's indeed still possible that an individual who's charismatic and has the talent to preach in a convincing way, can manipulate a bunch of people so that they follow him blindly and firmly believe in what these indoctrinating figure proclaims. A person with a seemingly clear mind who tries to convince others that he's talking the truth (however it's usually a twisted truth). Regardless if what he's preaching is based on Biblical or other religious texts or that this is simply improvised and full of hollow words. And he usually speaks to people who have physically and emotionally difficulties, or are recovering from a particular setback, and actually are in need and looking for a glimmer of hope and a last resort to hold on to. History has already shown the effect of such figures and what they can cause. And without going into a religious debacle here, I'm convinced that most of the global problems are rooted in the religious aspect of human life. And that's something that scares a lot of people already. Enough said!Charlotte (Emma Greenwell) is an ordinary waitress in a local bar in a godforsaken American town near the Appalachians. She's looking for her sister Liz who she has thrown out years ago because of a persistent drug addiction. The last thing she knows about Liz is that she has joined a cult called "The Church of the One Accord" somewhere in the mountains. She asks help from the Afghanistan veteran Wayne (Brendan McCarthy) who's suffering from PTSD and has an alcohol problem and who she helped one night. At first he's rather reluctant until Charlotte waves some dollar bills in front of his eyes. Before you know it they are attending a service with this religious group and they meet the phlegmatic and charismatic figure Billy (Joe Egender) who looks like he walked away from a 60s movie and you expect him to sing a rock song any moment. A true religious crooner. He emphasizes his message by using poisonous rattlesnakes. They are the symbol of the eternal struggle between God and the devil. Charlotte and Wayne soon realize that Liz is not present and Charlotte goes to investigate. Before they know it, however, they are caught in the web of the dangerous religious Brother Billy and his henchmen.Ultimately, this wasn't bad movie in the beginning. The gloomy atmosphere was constantly present and even at times it was pretty exciting. The images mounted in between from the eponymous documentary made by Peter Adair in 1967, made sure that the lurid and creepy atmosphere was maintained. The performances are the strongest part of this movie. It's the denouement that's the weak point. Especially Joe Egender I thought was fantastic and did some strong acting. He really came across as an evil and manipulative person with his loud-sounding voice and the way he spoke to his followers in a hypnotic way. A true wolf in sheep's clothing. Satan in person. Brendan McCarthy and Emma Greenwell were very convincing as the by chance created couple. McCarthy, ravaged by alcohol and who actually preferred to drive back. He's a character who cares about nothing. Greenwell tries to unravel the puzzle on her own. They truly did their best in a convincing way.But then the movie turns into a complete mess and ends in a disappointing way. The entire buildup is fabulous and is negated by the uninspired denouement. Why couldn't they just simply ask about the presence of Liz? Despite their aversion and indifference about that religious stuff, they still let themselves immerse. It also seemed strange to me that they could feel from the outset that there was a certain danger when staying in this closed community.In a certain way this was a scary and creepy movie about the deterrent of fanatical sects. A succession of extreme religious brainwashing where self-punishment is a method of self-purification. A crazy ritual encouraged by a dogmatic person. There are several films about such cults (and this one is definitely better than "Red State"). And because it is strange and incomprehensible for "normal" people this can lead to confusion and even fright, as the unknown frightens. So don't expect gory scenes and ghastly moments. For genre fans, it's a film that's worth watching.More reviews at http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be