Hell House

Hell Houses are the evangelical Christian church's answer to a haunted house, a fundamentalist fight night meant to scare the bejesus out of any nonbeliever. These houses of horror don't rely on the traditional gimmicks of ghosts and goblins. Instead, they recreate scenes that graphically depict such modern-day evils as botched abortions, AIDS-related deaths, fatal drunk driving crashes, date rapes, and drug-induced suicides. With full behind-the-scenes access, Hell House follows the making of these contemporary fire-and-brimstone sermons. Shot at the Trinity Assembly of God Church in Texas, the film chronicles the entire process from initial script meeting to lavish stage production. Hell House is a verite window into the creative effort and religious zeal behind this over-the-top sermon, while remaining an intimate portrait of the people who fervently believe its message.