Holy Ghost People (2013) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Mitchell Altieri
Starring: Brendan McCarthy, Joe Egender, Emma Greenwell
Rated: R/Region: 1/Widescreen/Number of disc: 1
Available from Xlrator
In this psychological thriller, 19-year-old Charlotte (Emma Greenwell) enlists the help of alcoholic ex-Marine Wayne (Brendan McCarthy) to find her estranged sister who has gone missing deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Their search leads them to the Church of One Accord and the enigmatic snake-handling preacher Brother Billy (Joe Egender), who s devoted congregation of outcasts knowingly risk injury or death seeking salvation in the Holy Ghost. What Wayne and Charlotte uncover during their time on the mountain – about themselves and the nature of faith – will shake them to their core, as the mystery of Charlotte s sister and her fate unravels.
Holy Ghost People makes for a very nice thriller. I did say thriller, because there seems to be some slight confusion on this one with people thinking it’s a horror film. Here a man called Wayne finds himself trying to help a girl named Charlotte find her sister. This takes them deep in the camp of a snake handling church that is lead by a very charismatic preacher named Billy. Everything seems to click here as the story builds and we discover one new thing after another as the interesting mystery unfolds before us on screen. Some people seem to think the film falls apart in the later part, but I’m not sure I agree.
I also don’t like snakes, so seeing them be handed around always gets me and it adds to the story here. It also adds to the story when you take into account that people really do stuff like this. This is a film that does people best not knowing too much going into it. I think you will enjoy this one better with the less you know about it. It might not be for everyone and like I said it isn’t really much of a horror film, but I did like it. It has tension and it is spooky enough for most. It also seems to have a certain style to it that is hard to find.
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