Viewed: Hell House

No relation to the Richard Matheson story, Hell House is a 2001 documentary focusing on a Texas church that offers an alternative to the traditional haunted house. In a hell house, visitors are lead through a series of scenes that depict the many ways they might end up in Hell. Hell houses are notorious for their political scenarios, and though this one had them as well, the event was primarily concerned with suicide and salvation. What makes the film itseslf so impressive is how it eschews any political slant and leaves the audience to develop their own opinions.

Hell House was made a year before Bowling for Columbine and only saw limited release in 2002. Its apolitical approach probably wouldn't have been possible afterwards, when anyone with a passionate opinion and Final Cut Pro could cherry-pick their famous talking heads; film, borrow, or steal amateur footage; and add in a few cartoons to reinforce their point. The glut of contemporary documentaries are diatribes tailored to specific demographics. They attract audiences who want their opinions to be reinforced, not challenged.

Hell House isn't like that. It can be horrifying, touching, or hilarious, but it's open to individual interpretation. With the exception of a few white-screen interviews where the participants are given a chance to discuss their beliefs, one off-camera question, and a single slate of follow-up text at the end, the editorial slant of the film seems to be to avoid having one. The subjects of the film are depicted as real people with merits and flaws.

I really felt for one of the younger organizers. He fought for years to get a rave scene into the hell house. When presented with the script, he sighed and told the actors that they'd have to improvise, because no one would believe it as it was written. A later scene in the writing room reveals why:

Woman: So, it's-- They're magic cards, but the game is called The Gathering?
Man: I think. It just says Magic: The Gathering on the front.
W: I'm just putting it...role-playing games such as Magic.
M: Role-playing games like Magic: The Gathering.
W: Introduced her to...
M: Role-playing games.
W: ...games, such as Magic and The Gathering?

Other participants in the documentary completely creeped me out. One of the organizers recently went through a divorce prompted by the discovery of his wife's "Internet friend." So what did he do? He added a room where a drunken father learns of his wife's infidelity and takes it out on his daughter. His son ends up taking tour groups through the scene. His daughter is spared the trauma of reliving her father's dark fantasy re-enactment, as she's in the next room bleeding to death.

Hell House is bound to provoke strong opinions. But what's most shocking--refreshing, cold shower shocking--is how it allows the audience to think for themselves.