One thing that should be brought up immediately when
discussing the film HAIL SATAN? The movie is about The Satanic Temple and yet
has virtually nothing to do with the religious character of Satan. Instead the
film is a documentary about the group as a radical political group who chose
the name with the intent of upsetting and poking a figure into the eye of the
religious right.
The Satanic Temple were co-founded by Lucien Greaves and
Malcolm Jarry with Greaves taking the role of front man for the organization.
Self-proclaimed atheists the pair make it their mission to take on the
religious groups for what they consider infringing on their rights and the
separation of church and state. In their view the two entities should never
mingle and all things religious should be removed from public locations or
other icons should be allowed to co-exist in the same place.
The films shows the group beginning as a sort of merry
prankster type organization that just wants to ridicule and attack those they
disagree with. But as it progresses we see that the more people that join the
more serious their views on things solidify and become more meaningful to their
members.
One of the center pieces of the film you’ve most likely
heard about and that is the construction and emplacement of a statue of
Baphomet at the state capitol in Arkansas. Their desire was to have this statue
of a horned satanic goat creature located next to the statue of the Ten
Commandments there. While the claim is that they believe in their religious
freedom to do so it’s painfully obvious this is a way to thumb their noses at
those who have religious convictions.
As the film progresses we see some of the other events that
the group has promoted. One is an after school Satan club complete with
coloring books and another a “Menstruatin’ with Satan” program that provides
feminine sanitary products for women. In the eyes of the group and the director
of this film, this is simply trolling those who they seek to offend and upset,
harmless harassment of people they consider rubes for believing the way they
do.
But something amusing does actually take place as the film
nears its end. The group has become so large that this anarchistic organization
formed to stick it to those tethered by rules and regulations suddenly becomes
the entity they seek to destroy. They come up with their own set of rules to be
followed. When the leader of the Detroit chapter violates one of those rules by
calling for the assassination of the President, she is kicked out of the
organization. The group has gone full circle and become that which they claim
to hate the most.
Perhaps it’s showing my age but as I watched the members of
the group rattle off about their beliefs and the organization I felt like I was
watching a large group of malcontents who looked like the kids most picked on
while in high school. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s not the tattoos or
body piercings that make one believe this (I know plenty of people with both)
but their general attitude towards things. They might have legal legs to stand
on in the various events they stage but at the same time after watching this
film I find it hard to believe they do them out of concern and more out of just
an attempt to garner attention for themselves and laugh at others as if they’re
above it all.
Would I recommend this film? Sure. It gives people a chance
to see how ridiculous a group like this can be. Or if you’re a believer in the
organization you’ll cheer for their antics. They distance themselves from the
religious version of Satan but have no problem using icons or ceremonies that
have ties. In the end it’s a movie about people who seem to have nothing better
to do than make waves.
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