HAIL SATAN? (2019)

Starring Jex Blackmore, Nicholas Crowe, Lucien Greaves

Directed by Penny Lane

Distributed by Magnolia. 95 minutes. Rated R

Headline-grabbing independent filmmaker, Penny Lane, has profiled some incredible subjects over her years as a documentarian. From President Richard Nixon to Dr. John Romulus Brinkley- the infamous goat testicle surgeon- Penny Lane has a knack for bringing engaging stories to the big screen, and her latest feature, Hail Satan?, is no exception.

Hail Satan? is a documentary meant to provoke. Fed up with the status quo government classification of the United States as a Christian nation as opposed to a secular one, activist Lucien Greaves has dedicated his life to pressuring society to evaluate the notion of one “right religion.” Greaves- not his birth name- is the mastermind behind The Satanic Temple, which has been described as the new weapon in culture wars. Greaves and other members of The Satanic Temple aim to point out every mention of Christianity within the government, including the motto “In God We Trust” on our currency as well as erecting a 10 Commandments statue outside the Capitol Buildings. The Satanists combat this with provocative performance art, demonstrations, and even the construction of their own statue, Baphomet, to sit alongside the religious ones.

Disregard everything you thought you knew about Satanism- these followers and religious instigators claim that just as the devil directly confronted god, satanism directly confronts religion. They profess that death and mayhem aren’t the pillars of Satanism but are characteristics that have been wrongly attributed to this misunderstood organization since its origin. Rather, Satanists consider themselves to be realistic and logical thinkers who believe that religion should be separated from superstition. They believe in empathy, respect, and good will towards others. Shockingly, Satanists don’t believe in Satan.

Hail Satan profiles The Satanic Temple and its members and Penny Lane humanizes the once-feared and very misunderstood world of Satanists. The documentary itself is very standard, with talking heads directly addressing the camera, but the subject matter alone is enough to engage the audience during the entire 95-minute run time. This film, however, isn’t for everyone. If you’re easily offended by vulgar nudity, fetishizing abortion, or provocative performance art, this may not be a comfortable watch.

Hail Satan? should be viewed through the lens of ironic humor. While these are the real beliefs of real human beings, the outrageousness of their actions makes it ok to laugh with and at them. Catchphrases like “Satanism is patriotism” and conducting interviews wearing devil horns makes Hail Satan? enlightening and entertaining. The Satanic revolution is coming, we’ve all been warned.

Opening this Friday at ArcLight Hollywood.