Religion tends to bring out the best and the worst of people.  After watching Bill Maher’s new documentary Religulous this weekend, this fact has never been more obvious.  In the film Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor praises religion for it’s ability to soften the edges of humanity.  But with the good comes the bad, and in some cases the most horrifying insanity imaginable.

With snake-handling preachers and tear-stained children speaking in tongues, the soft edges can become a bit hard to recognize.  But as you will see in these five video clips, evangelical craziness can be  gruesomely exciting to watch and cause you to shrill with terror.

The Top 5 Most Terrifying Religu-licious Freakshows After the Jump (more…)

There is something to be said for a film made for more than pure entertainment. I’ve always loved non-fiction, and therefore, I’ve long been a shamelessly flamboyant fan of the documentary. Since I find that a lot of people get lost in the whirlwind of Hollywood mainstream film, I’ve put together this list of documentaries you MUST check out.

DiG!
DiG! Captures 7 years, via intimate footage, of the bands The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. It details their trials and triumphs and struggles and successes. More importantly, it provides for a real, first hand look of how difficult being in a band can actually be.

SPELLBOUND
Following eight teens who are on a mission to win a spelling bee, this movie introduces the viewers to the kids’ parents, their practice routines, and the generally weird world of competition spelling.

SHOT IN THE DARK
You may be a fan of Adrian Grenier, or you may not. Regardless, his documentary is amazing. It is about his quest to find his father, who he grew up without. It’s emotional and simultaneously intelligent.

JESUS CAMP
Even if you are religious and a firm believer in Christianity, particularly Pentecostal beliefs, you should still see this movie. It documents children who are away at ‘Jesus’ Camp. It’s intense, informative, and a total must see. (more…)