Director Mitchell Altieri is probably best known for being one half of the directing duo The Butcher Brothers, who gave us some very interesting and unique horror films such as The Hamiltons and The Violent Kind. Now, Mitchell has branched out on his own to create the upcoming thriller Holy Ghost People which had its world premiere at SXSW 2013. So how does it fare when this duo splits to do their own projects? Much like when Outkast did it, it’s something of a mixed bag.
Holy Ghost People stars Emma Greenwell as Charlotte, a young woman who sets out to find her drug addicted sister who fell into a strange snake-handling church in the appalachian mountains. Charlotte employs the help of Wayne (Brendan McCarthy), a war vet and local drunk to help recover her lost sister. After making their way to the church they meet Brother Billy (Joe Egender), the charismatic and very creepy leader of the congregation.
It’s clear from the onset that something isn’t right with this place and Altieri does a good job in giving us an uneasy feeling the moment they enter the church property. The cult-like compound has a constant aura of dread and though you know there’s something not right, you will be clamoring to find out what secrets these people are keeping.
The film is based on a documentary of the same name from 1967 which studied a small Pentecostal church in Scrabble Creek, West Virginia. Altieri intercuts brief clips from the original into this one, which add to the bizarre and slightly terrifying tone of the film. The clips give us a little reminder that while this movie is a dramatization, these places are real and they are scary.
The aesthetic choices in the film also compliment the overall creepiness by taking us from dive bars to trailer parks to the compound itself, which is a dirty, rundown camp that looks like something straight out of Deliverance. Hillbilly mountain people have always been a scary bunch and this movie is no exception.
On a performance level, Joe Egender was the standout as Brother Billy. With his rockabilly style and mad eyes, Egender nailed the role of the film’s antagonist. Brendan McCarthy also provided a solid performance as Wayne. Though most of his delivery was average, the deadpan personality and facial expressions he brought to the role were excellent. Though the character was an alcoholic and had several violent outbursts throughout the film due to withdraw, his demeanor remained stoic and calm for the majority of the film.
Holy Ghost People is not without its flaws however. The plot, while intriguing at the onset, became slightly tired and uninteresting by the second act. Though the film builds the mystery and tension, by the time we’ve reached the climax it feels too little too late.
The filmmakers also opted for using CG for the blood effects and it’s not done very well, which cheapens the look. The snakes used were real however, so I’m unsure why they could use practical effects for the snakes but not the blood.
In summation, fans of Altieri’s previous projects will be pleased with this film on nearly every level. It certainly has the same Butcher Brothers vibe we’ve grown to love and it’s easily his best film yet. Though it’s not a crowning achievement, Holy Ghost People still proves to be a passable, entertaining, but not necessarily fresh thriller.
Don Harvey was the standout in this mediocre film. the acting overall was amateur at best. McCarthey is a boring one note actor. Ambiance without substance.
I would agree with you completely. I thought McCarthey was great when he wasn’t talking.