"Hell House" shows the members of Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, Texas (near Dallas) organizing and planning their annual Hell House. Unlike the usual a haunted house with ghosts and goblins, Hell House exposes the evils of real life (abortion, rape, AIDS, DWI, suicide, etc.) and offers visitors a chance for salvation.
From what I've seen, I found the misinformation presented by the elders and the people performing in Hell House unintentionally funny, very sad and very enraging. In one vignette, one person commits suicide after being teased and taunted by his classmates. So the person committing suicide goes to hell. What about the classmates who teased him to get to that low point of his life?
Since 1990, approx. 10,000-13,000 per year has visited "Hell House". So 13,000 visitors per year x $5-7 per person = at least $65,000 income per year every October. Just from a financial standpoint, Hell House is a clever marketing coup.
Director George Ratliff and his crew were given open access to the church. Ratliff chose to film the church participants and the situations as-is without making judgments (e.g.: no narrator) which I think made for a powerful and chilling documentary.
From what I've seen, I found the misinformation presented by the elders and the people performing in Hell House unintentionally funny, very sad and very enraging. In one vignette, one person commits suicide after being teased and taunted by his classmates. So the person committing suicide goes to hell. What about the classmates who teased him to get to that low point of his life?
Since 1990, approx. 10,000-13,000 per year has visited "Hell House". So 13,000 visitors per year x $5-7 per person = at least $65,000 income per year every October. Just from a financial standpoint, Hell House is a clever marketing coup.
Director George Ratliff and his crew were given open access to the church. Ratliff chose to film the church participants and the situations as-is without making judgments (e.g.: no narrator) which I think made for a powerful and chilling documentary.