Review of Hail Satan? (2019) by Softhands — 14 Aug 2020

The first 10 minutes basically lays out the whole thesis of the film and the rest is a story regarding the taking down a stone statue of the 10 commandments in front of the state capital building.

It's well-executed and the introduction of new information is well-paced enough that you are never bored but nothing about the film really stands out. It's almost generic in the way it decides to present itself which considering the subject matter is a missed opportunity, seriously no heavy metal?

Make no mistake, this is a political motivated movie nor is it about actual Satan worship and this really damages the over all product as outside of its thesis it does not have much to offer. I agree with just about everything that this movie puts forward yet I left feeling that the film is disingenuous in some ways. Mostly regarding characters fighting self-imposed scrutiny when they decide to take the name and imagery of Satan in their cause and are shocked that they are not accepted and targets of Catholic/Christian groups and feel they must fight this injustice. What did you expect was going to happen? Using Satan is going to upset these groups, they have been using him as a embodiment of evil for thousands of years so no one has any right to be surprised that they don't like groups that model themselves after Satan, its deliberately provocative.

This lack of self-awareness is present throughout most of the people interviewed and this would not be not be an issue in a more partisan film but this movie chooses a side and this really damages its credibility and makes the morels questionable in some areas. They do bring this issue up in the film in one line and its dismissed just as quickly with 'There was no other name for it', that is not really an answer.

Also the 10 commandments have a historical basis in modern law and you could make the argument for a sculpture of it to be in-front of any legal body, again brought up in one lined and dismissed.

I said that most of the people seem to be lacking self awareness because a small amount seem to be in on the joke but the film only nods at rather then outright making it the punchline. I think this again damages the overall product as most of the film is trying to sell the sincerity of the group but this is undermined by a select few using it as a tool for satire and to mess with the dominate religions. I am fine with either and a narrative about a satire group becoming more then the some of its parts or a group calling the bluff on Religious pluralism in the US by putting forward a proxy could be just as interesting but the film fails to commit to either. I do what to stress I agree with most of the political statements presented in this film and the main story is a good morel but film ultimately fails to grab me. I will more then likely forget about it in a weeks times and I cannot help but to feel its the lack of charisma or character with the people interviewed, they are the same old left leaning people we have seen on TV and movies a 100 times over just disguised as Satanists. I honestly think an outsider prospective could have really helped make this movie a lot more interesting rather then it being made in house and almost propaganda to the movement.

In conclusion I think the film really lacked direction and it seems to this a result of the actual 'religious' group this film is based on, some seem to be 100% sincere about it and others use it as a tool for political activism and the film never capitalises on either direction nor the disconnect within. My feelings are summed up well by one of the people interviewed, 'People are often disappointed that I don't actually worship Satan'. I am as well, would have made you and this movie a little more interesting.