RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Hell House
Hell House

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Hell House (2002)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
94 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 33

Fresh: 31

Rotten:2

Average Rating: 7.5/10

Consensus: A fascinating, even-handed account of Hell Houses.

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 86 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Theatrical Release:Nov 15, 2002 Limited

Synopsis: George Ratliff's stirring documentary sheds light on one of late-20th Century America's most confounding creations, the Hell House. Providing a bizarre twist on the traditional haunted house... George Ratliff's stirring documentary sheds light on one of late-20th Century America's most confounding creations, the Hell House. Providing a bizarre twist on the traditional haunted house formula, Hell Houses are church-funded, elaborately staged productions that trade fictitious monsters for the so-called demons that haunt our everyday lives--demons such as abortion, suicide, and homosexuality. Brought to you by the parishioners at your local Pentecostal or Southern Baptist churches, Hell Houses aim to frighten nonbelievers into a life of purity (as they see it) by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Ratliff's impressively unobtrusive camera takes the audience behind the scenes of one of America's most notorious Hell Houses, sponsored by the Trinity Assembly of God Church in Cedar Hill, Texas, following the outlandish production from its pre-planning stages all the way through its wildly successful two-week run. Rather than merely presenting these people--and this spectacle--as an outrageous example of reverence gone bonkers, Ratliff takes the time to establish the humanity of each participant, which adds another layer to the film. Frustrating, hysterical, and stimulating, HELL HOUSE is a testament to the saying "truth is stranger than fiction." [More]

Director: George Ratliff

Director: George Ratliff
Producer: Zachary Mortensen, Selina Lewis-Davidson, George Ratliff
Studio: Seventh Art Releasing

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue. Or if you don't want to wait, you can click on the "PLAY" button and watch it right now!

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

May 27, 2003

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Hell House

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
11/26/08
Dennis Harvey
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Even if you do not agree with the message that the Hell House haunt is purveying, you will find the Hell House documentary fascinating.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
07/22/08
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

No review available.

comment Comment
02/18/07
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Time Out

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment 1 Comment
01/09/06
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
05/13/05
Apollo Guide

No review available.

comment Comment
01/24/05
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

I encourage everyone to watch it and discuss the difference between Christ's ministry and the 'ministry' of these high-pressure gospel salesmen.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer

The whole thing's like a Jack Chick comic tract come to life, and it would be easy to condescend to, but director George Ratliff has not done so.

Full Review Source: New Times | comment Comment
10/09/03
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

Perhaps it is as Albert Einstein said, 'Before God we are all equally wise – and equally foolish.'

Full Review Source: ToxicUniverse.com | comment Comment
05/25/03
Keith Uhlich
ToxicUniverse.com

It is a strength of a documentary to disregard available bias, especially as temptingly easy as it would have been with this premise.

Full Review Source: Not Coming to a Theater Near You | comment Comment
05/08/03
Rumsey Taylor
Not Coming to a Theater Near You

By focusing on the basic decency of these people [Ratliffe] exquisitely captures the irony of a community at odds with its god’s message of unconditional love.

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
04/05/03
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

It's up to you to decide whether to admire these people's dedication to their cause or be repelled by their dogmatism, manipulativeness and narrow, fearful view of American life.

Full Review Source: Offoffoff | comment Comment
03/10/03
Joshua Tanzer
Offoffoff

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

A tad controversial, Hell House doesn’t exist to cast stones, but rather document their hurlers.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/16/03
Ryan Cracknell
Film Threat

A life-size reenactment of those Jack Chick cartoon tracts that always ended with some hippie getting tossed into the lake of fire.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
01/08/03
Scott Von Doviak
culturevulture.net

Despite what anyone believes about the goal of its makers, the show ... represents a spectacular piece of theater, and there's no denying the talent of the creative forces behind it.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
11/19/02
Leslie Katz
San Francisco Examiner

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
11/18/02
Brian Orndorf
Modamag.com

Frightening, well-done documentary.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
11/15/02
V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums for Hell House

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
79%
79%
Gran Torino
30%
30%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
—
The Code
39%
39%
Inkheart

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

5 Favorite Films

5 Favorite Films

Director Kathryn Bigelow on Hurt Locker, more

Revisiting Hogwarts

Revisiting Hogwarts

Day 2: The Chamber of Secrets

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

RT on Current TV!

RT on Current TV!

Check out the RT Show this Thursday!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: T.J. Hooker Film in Development
6
  • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
82
  • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
24
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
60
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
18
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
10
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
67
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
46
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
45
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
41
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
39
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
36
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
26
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
19
  • Watch RT on Current TV
6
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Hell House at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Hell House at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.