Boys' Bible Study

This movie about a famous, successful rapper who takes a career risk by giving his life to Christ feels like it was written by someone who has never listened to a rap song before. That writer is Jason Campbell, one of the most prolific auteurs currently active in the Christian movie scene. Campbell has produced 88 films since 2013, and per iMDB has 29 upcoming. When you make that many films, the adage "write what you know" can't apply anymore, because you have too many ideas and need to do something new. Maybe that's why Campbell decided to take on the world of hip-hop despite knowing little about it, even basic terms. In the first scene of DROP THE BEAT, rapper Ace Jay is in the studio laying down some conscious rap when his producer says "You need to hit the beat harder," and the rapper replies "What beat? I hit all of them!" This is not how any rapper has ever thought about music, and it's a fundamental misunderstanding of music itself. But Campbell persists, writing a script about Ace Jay's disillusionment with the industry that made him rich. Ace goes back to his roots, touring the performing arts school whose scholarship was his ticket out of "the hood" and into the big time. Meanwhile, his record label schemes against him, planting a rumor that his delayed album stems from drug trouble. The problem with DROP THE BEAT is there's no story or atmosphere in the script or design that supports the plot. We meet Ace Jay at the start of the film saying he's disillusioned, but why? We see nothing of his former life that gives motivation for a redemption arc. Also, Ace simply has no swag; he looks put together, but not like the most famous rapper in the world should look. Fortunately, frequent Campbell collaborator Dean Cain shows up to inject some life into the film, stealing the show for one scene. Per an unsourced iMDB trivia item, Cain was paid $15,000 for his tiny role. This begs the question: how much money is DROP THE BEAT actually making, and did it turn a profit? It's a mystery, but one thing is for sure: Jason Campbell is an absolute machine of Christian movie making, it's just too bad the films themselves feel cold and mechanical. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Gramps is finally clapping back at the haters and losers! Donald James Parker breaks the fourth wall in his newest feature BEAUTY AND THE ATHEIST. It's a shocking turn for a Christian film auteur, the first Christian film we've ever made fun of on our podcast, with a plot about a Christian film being made fun of on a podcast. Does your head hurt yet? It gets even more meta than that: BEAUTY AND THE ATHEIST is a film about a real event in Donald's life, when he felt (to use his words) an "inaudible message" that compelled him to reach out to atheist activist Forrest Valkai to debate him about the idea of evolution. Forrest accepted Donald's invite and hosted Donald on YouTube to the tune of 500k views. In Donald's own estimation, the debate didn't go very well for him, but it did yield creative inspiration. BEAUTY AND THE ATHEIST is the story of a Christian filmmaker (played by Donald himself) who debates an atheist podcaster, whose hatred of God is finally softened by the love of a Christian woman. Donald James Parker's character is called Douglas Connors, an obvious 1:1 fictional version of himself. In BEAUTY AND THE ATHEIST, the titular "beauty" is Douglas's own daughter Jeweli Connors (yes, spelled like that). She's a hardworking nurse and outspoken Christian who finds solace in a local coffee shop called Common Grounds. It is there she meets the atheist: podcaster Trey Crawford, who loves evolution so much he wears a Charles Darwin shirt every single day. The unlikely pair develop a verbal rapport that turns into weekly discussions about spirituality vs. secularism during workouts at the local gym. But their convivial relationship is turned upside down when Jeweli discovers Trey's podcast is one of the many "chuckleheads" who mock her own father's cinematic evangelism. Fortunately, God has a way, and the blossoming relationship in BEAUTY AND THE ATHEIST shows that love is possible on the battlefield. It's fascinating to see Donald James Parker make art in conversation with the ecosystem that gets likes and views at his expense; we're very curious to see where this conversational thread takes Mr. Parker in the near future. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Welcome to a new Boys' Bible Study side project called "The DharMann Bums," which is what we're renaming the show whenever we cover an episode of Dhar Mann, the inspirational YouTube filmmaker who racks up hundreds of millions of views making dramaslop with a questionable moral compass. We've covered Dhar Mann before, enjoying his decadent world where archetypes like "nice guys" and gold diggers duke it out, usually over money, and the evil party gets punished for their hubris. Since it's time for our annual Christmas in July episode, we decided to delve into two Christmas-themed Dhar Mann videos: "Foster Mom Won't Let Kids Have Christmas Presents" and "Adopted Kid Finds Out Mall Santa Is His Dad." Notice both plots center on orphans; the orphan is a common Dhar Mann archetype, probably popular because his audience of primarily children empathizes with downtrodden kids stuck between adults who don't have their best interests at heart. Another common trope is the evil foster parent, who only wants kids for the money they bring in through abuse of government handouts. In "Foster Mom," an evil Russian-coded foster mom makes her kids ask for Amazon gift cards for Christmas and blocks adoptions, since losing kids means losing income for her orphanage. In "Mall Santa," an evil foster mom hides her adopted son from his real dad, a humble mall Santa, again because he's her source of passive income. In both videos, Dhar Mann exists as an aspirational God-like figure representing both God and Santa Claus. Only by contacting Dhar Mann, and through the goodness of his own heart, are these orphans relieved of their evil caretakers. By frequently critiquing misuse of government resources while establishing himself as the source of grace and charity, Dhar Mann seems to imply a kind of YouTuber autocracy where the dignity to live comes from one Mann alone. This bizarre quasi-religious undertone, where there is no God but Dhar Mann, makes him fascinating for our podcast about religious megalomania. As long as Dhar Mann keeps making reactionary anti-human art, The DharMann Bums will be here to document it. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! $5 pledge gets you bonus episodes and $20 enters you in our monthly handmade DVD mailing program "Bootleg Bible Study"!   http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy While cattle were loading into IMAX theaters all over the country to catch THE ODYSSEY, intellectuals and patriots alike found themselves seated for a different kind of hero's journey. YOUNG WASHINGTON is the story of American mythology, and its founder George Washington, when he was but a twink and the empire he was about to preside over was but a twinkle in King George's eye. Production company Angel Studios -- the A24 of conservative propaganda -- pumped this one out as a July 4 special, and the film features Gollum actor and frequent Angel Studios collaborator Andy Serkis. Serkis recently helmed an animated version of ANIMAL FARM, with a star-studded cast, produced by Angel Studios. YOUNG WASHINGTON is not without its celebrities; Kelsey Grammer cameos, and Mary-Louise Parker (WEEDS) phones in a terrible performance as Washington's mother, Mary. The film chooses to depict a section of Washington's life entirely from when he was a subject under British rule -- a choice that proves to be one of the film's biggest weaknesses. We go to the movies on July 4 to ponder the majesty of America, not hear a bunch of guys with confusingly disparate accents say "God Save the King" over and over again. Not one action taken in the film is pro-America, so who cares? Military history buffs may appreciate the attention to detail that comes with faithfully depicting more obscure pre-Revolutionary War events, but YOUNG WASHINGTON would have fared better as a meme movie with less accuracy. We want the cherry tree. We want the wooden teeth. We want to cross the Delaware. We got none of that. Angel Studios needs to think hard about what it means to produce actually good propaganda and put it into action, quick -- or else they choose to alienate their most annoying and least loyal fans (us). View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

This strange genre combination of "end times film," "pro-abstinence film," and "time travel film" will give you whiplash. 2080 is a 40 minute long film by Joshua Wright, a Christian social media influencer successful online for his Instagram Reels content, now breaking into a filmmaking form that rewards a slightly longer attention span. The title 2080 hints at a not so far off future, but the film begins in the present day with the story of high school athlete Jacob. Having been accepted into many colleges due to his football prowess, he seems like a man with a bright future ahead of him. Unfortunately, he had one problem: the sin of lust with his girlfriend Lida, who he touches "in a way that only a married woman should be touched." God jump scares Jacob one night after falling asleep – when Jacob wakes up, he is in dystopian 2080, where flying cars fill the skies and a deadly pandemic called Chronovirus has killed 25% of the world's population. (Sound familiar?) Even worse, the Chronovirus vaccine is mandatory and requires a microchip implant, similar to pop culture depictions of the "Mark of the Beast" from Revelation. How will Jacob escape this dark future and return back to the comfort of 2025, where everything is great? And does the girl he meets in the future, Ari, who bears a striking family resemblance to him, hold the key? 2080 is laudable because it combines common Christian movie tropes in a genuinely unexpected way that surprised us even after years of dedication to watching this genre. However, the combo really could have used some editing, and the protagonist Jacob could have used some humility that would have made his path to salvation more relatable. It's also very unclear what the correlation is between the COVID parallels and Christianity in this movie. Is the vaccine a sin, or is that just world building? These hints at hard theological topics with no resolution make 2080 a messy and ultimately unsatisfying watch. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! $5 pledge gets you bonus episodes and $20 enters you in our monthly handmade DVD mailing program "Bootleg Bible Study"!   http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy The 2000s marked a huge shift in the methods available to DIY outsider filmmakers. Internet connectivity became a necessity for the average person instead of just a hobbyist pursuit, and powerful consumer softwares offered new ways of making stories come to life and be distributed directly to a global audience. Case in point: CHRISTIAN PRINCESS AND THE MUSLIM PAUPER, a religious-themed webseries by animator AZAD669, created using mods of The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 allowing for custom animations, and edited using Sony Vegas software. Episode 2 of this webseries has accrued over 600,000 views since it was first uploaded, a testament to the democratization of film distribution typical to the era. Not much is known about AZAD669 -- their website no longer exists online -- but we speculate they are ethnically Pakistani, in part because the series contains Urdu subtitles, which is the national language of Pakistan. Also, the series uses some Pakistani music. Indeed, CHRISTIAN PRINCESS AND THE MUSLIM PAUPER is a musical -- each episode contains an extended animation sequence where characters sing and dance to pop songs, including Disney and Barbie ballads. There is one original song, "Inshallah," the main title of the webseries, which is actually just a singer repeating the word "Inshallah" (Arabic for "If God Wills") over Aerith's Theme from FINAL FANTASY VII. This blending of IP from popular works is typical of 2000s fan animations, showing DIY filmmakers using artistic ingredients from their favorite franchises to add to the atmosphere of their own story. In this case, that story is of rival fictitious Christian and Muslim nations of Jameland and Abustan. Princess Rosa of Jameland yearns for freedom from her royal duties, the answer to which could be switching places with Mariah, a humble Muslim girl who looks so similar to Rosa she could be her identical twin. Can a mischievous swap between the two young ladies prevent a Holy War brewing between the two lands, instigated by an evil atheist ironically named Stephen the Trustworthy? CHRISTIAN PRINCESS AND THE MUSLIM PAUPER is as weird and stilted as you would expect of an enthusiastic amateur animation made on The Sims 2, but its wholesome message of unity between Christians and Muslims against the scheming atheists is one we can all agree on. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

America's 250th birthday is coming up this weekend (unc much?) so we decided to celebrate with another film taking place within the hallowed halls of the barracks. COUNTER COLUMN is a story of three teenagers who, for different reasons, sublimate themselves into US military basic training while growing spiritually in the process. Unfortunately, the film is very confusing, and just seems to be a reimagining of FULL METAL JACKET from memory but without any of the artistry. The military is a somewhat common backdrop for Christian films for a few reasons – most obviously, it signals the contemporary conservative value of trust of government systems, demonstrating tribal distance from those nasty leftists. But also, purification of the self in basic training, where a guy with a hat yells at you a lot and you have to run a few miles, is a metaphor for spiritual purification through Christ. In COUNTER COLUMN, Anthony Mendoza is a juvenile delinquent who joins basic training to clean up his act and get away from the drugs, but his destructive impulses manifest in making life hard for his fellow trainees, Chris Wright and Jason Neil. The two Indiana boys are childhood friends and devout Christians, faith that is put to the test in basic training, where their peers and officers denigrate them for praying in public. This is confusing – is Christianity suddenly not tolerated in the military? Also, why is Mendoza, depicted as a violent thug who threatens his fellow recruits with loaded weapons during exercises, tolerated whatsoever? For a film that signals knowledge of military life through terms like "counter column," the film earns no trust in the viewer's mind that it is reliably depicting the army, completely killing its messaging. COUNTER COLUMN suffers from major narrative inconsistencies, making the final dramatic payoff of Mendoza's journey from dope dealer to model citizen seem random instead of inspiring. Instead, watch LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE, RED BIG FIRE TRUCK, and THE SABER, three excellent Christian films about military life, with the volume turned up loud enough to distract your dog from the fireworks happening outside. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! $5 pledge gets you bonus episodes and $20 enters you in our monthly handmade DVD mailing program "Bootleg Bible Study"!   http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy   This historically important film with an all black cast takes a unique narrative approach in its depiction of the Christian afterlife. THE BLOOD OF JESUS was directed by Spencer Williams, an accomplished black actor and filmmaker with a prolific media career in the 1920s-40s before starring in the television adaptation of AMOS 'N' ANDY. The highly-rated show featured black actors in starring roles, but was eventually cancelled in part due to pressure from the NAACP objecting to its stereotypical depictions of African-Americans. Nonetheless, Spencer Williams should be considered a trailblazer in black American media. In fact, THE BLOOD OF JESUS could be considered the most commercially successful "race film" (low budget independent films meant for black audiences at segregated movie theaters). Watching today, it's easy to understand why it was a success, because even 85 years later, the film's confident narrative and resourceful low budget effects make it engaging. Williams also stars in the film in addition to writing and directing; his character Ras Jackson is a spiritually apathetic man who undergoes a transformation when, returning from a hunting trip, he accidentally shoots his wife Martha, a recent and enthusiastic convert to Christianity. Most of the action depicts Martha's soul retrieved by angels and forging a path to the afterlife. THE BLOOD OF JESUS is refreshingly different from almost every other Christian film we've watched because it portrays the path from death to heaven as a purgatory-like obstacle course where dream logic reigns and the deceased Christian has one more chance to succeed or fail at getting to the gates of Zion. Most Christian films portray deliverance or damnation as instant — say the wrong words before death, and you're plummeted to hell. THE BLOOD OF JESUS is a way more forgiving and imaginative take on the trope. Scored by recordings of a black choir singing hymns and spirituals, the film is evocative and atmospheric, capturing a period of black American history with the confidence of a media craftsman. It's a rewarding and essential watch for anyone interested in film history, black history, or religious studies. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

This Christian-leaning film directed by a martial arts expert preaches a confusing mix of liberal pro-science atheism and Christian deism that would be way more interesting if the fight scenes weren't such a slog. It's too bad because ABSOLUTE DOMINION has so much good going for it. Director Lexi Alexander has a genuinely interesting career and an obvious expertise and passion for combat sports. Her most notable film is possibly PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (2008), a commercial failure at the time that has since become a cult classic. She was notable for being the first female director of a Marvel franchise film, but the gritty and hyper-violent take on PUNISHER didn't land well with critics or audiences. Alexander had some famous defenders though -- comedian Patton Oswalt has repeatedly gone on record praising the film. It's probably not a coincidence that he and fellow celebrity fan Alex Winter both appear in ABSOLUTE DOMINION in supporting roles. We hypothesize that both jumped at the chance to support a new Lexi Alexander project with an interesting script. In ABSOLUTE DOMINION, Oswalt plays a fictional influencer/streamer named Fix Huntley who goes viral in the year 2085 AD pitching the idea for a worldwide martial arts tournament where the major world religions each send a champion to fight for religious dominance. In the war-torn dystopian future of 2085, society jumps at the chance for a civil Mortal Kombat-style tournament instead of scattered warfare and bloodshed. The three major world religions, Celestians, Pentotities, and Dashafaris, all send champions, but a last-minute rogue entry named Sagan Bruno steals the show. Sagan represents the Institute for Humanism in Science -- a perfect fighter born of a eugenics project, to a scientist mother and athlete father, neither of which have a relationship with him. Bruno quickly jumps to the top of the competition, but his worldview is rocked when blessings from a supernatural force begin to guide his combat. Could this force be none other than capital "G" God? Or is it just a miracle of logic and reason? It's too bad ABSOLUTE DOMINION couldn't stick the landing because it is undoubtedly a breath of fresh air in a sea of Christian movies with the exact same stereotypical evangelical perspective. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! $5 pledge gets you bonus episodes and $20 enters you in our monthly handmade DVD mailing program "Bootleg Bible Study"!   http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy From director Darren Wilson, the mind behind one of our least favorite films we've ever watched for the podcast (HEAVENQUEST: A PILGRIM'S PROGRESS), comes a similarly off-putting documentary about an enthusiastic band of faith healers causing chaos all over the world. The thesis of HOLY GHOST is basically that most preachers underemphasize the Holy Ghost aspect of the trinity -- the invisible force of God that is capable of doing miracles on earth. There's even a term for people who believe that biblical miracles ended after Jesus ascended into heaven: cessationists. The pastors in HOLY GHOST are the opposite -- continualists -- who believe that through prayer they can cause miracles to happen on command. They "prove" this over and over in the documentary by using really obvious social coercion tactics so their prayer subjects will say for the camera that they are healed. In one particularly uncomfortable example, they heal a young man's metal joint by having him bend it many times. It looks painful for the man who is playing along, and watching it happen is an empathy nightmare. The discomfort continues when the preachers take their show on the road to India, saying over and over again that their main goal is to film inside a holy Hindu temple. Why is this a win for Christianity? Because it's impolite? Fortunately, the documentary does end on a high note with about 30 minutes spent at a Korn concert with the members of Korn themselves, healing Korn fans -- many of whom are suffering from various ailments, which isn't really surprising given they are Korn fans. HOLY GHOST is a funny and at times painful watch, a peek into the mind of a brand of Christian narcissism that feels like it's going extinct now that media Christians are more brand savvy. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

In filmmaker Belinda M. Wilson's video introduction to the BLACK MAMBA DVD, she claims the film is inspired by a real life encounter with a mysterious woman at Wilson's own family reunion who never aged, could never prove her relation to the family, and was suspected of putting curses on people she disagreed with. This reverence for the supernatural forces that guide our day to day lives is powerfully captured in BLACK MAMBA, one of the most impressive DIY auteur films we've ever seen, that deserves to be seen by all film lovers who prioritize work that exists outside of the Hollywood machine. The film was officially released by Bleeding Skull as part of a three film compilation called "Backyard Bloodbaths." We highly recommend purchasing this film via that collection, but also humbly request that BLACK MAMBA be eventually given its own release with a focus on Wilson and her career. BLACK MAMBA stars writer/director Wilson as the titular character, a powerful and evil witch living in an ordinary house in Los Angeles's Crenshaw neighborhood. Structured like a horror anthology, the film revolves around different characters showing up to Black Mamba's door requesting spells and potions to fulfill their earthly needs. The spells never go quite right, mostly due to the recipient's pride, and the consequences are intense and disturbing. We notice this structure is typical to the "black magic" thrillers emerging from the Hong Kong film industry in the 1970s and 80s, where humans delve into magical worlds beyond their understanding, unable to stop the forces once regret inevitably sets in. BLACK MAMBA's punishing scares are technically impressive considering Wilson is creating them with a small team; mutilated genitals, rotting corpses, and trapped souls are used to gag-inducing effect, inserted manically between comedic episodes. Her fast-paced editing keeps visual interest throughout by drawing the eye to demonic apparitions in mirrors, hallways, and bottles. BLACK MAMBA is a wildly entertaining film with an interesting take on spirituality, showing that the punishment for trying to outdo God is swift and dangerous. Purchase BLACK MAMBA via Bleeding Skull's compilation "Backyard Bloodbaths": http://bleedingskull.com/backyard-bloodbaths-bs-010/ View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! $5 pledge gets you bonus episodes and $20 enters you in our monthly handmade DVD mailing program "Bootleg Bible Study"!   http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy The number one rule of being in an "angelslop" movie (a new genre we invented for a certain type of whimsical ~1990s film where angels and demons meddle in human affairs) is a private detective should not be taking the case of a man named Louis Cyphre. Say "Louis Cyphre" out loud if you haven't put it together already. ANGEL HEART protagonist Harold Angel (another pun?), played by Mickey Rourke, fails this test spectacularly, and heads out on an American tour trying to find out the whereabouts of jazz singer Johnny Favorite at the behest of Mr. Cyphre. Angel arrives in New Orleans, where he meets the 17-year-old Mambo priestess Epiphany Proudfoot, played by Lisa Bonet in her first adult role post-COSBY SHOW, which scandalized audiences with nudity and sexual violence that reportedly almost earned the film an X rating. Angel's tumultuous sexual relationship with Proudfoot leads him to a shocking self-realization that becomes the turning point in the case he's building on Johnny Favorite. This plot hits so many "angelslop" tropes common to the genre: the barely-disguised devil played by a famous actor (Robert De Niro in this case), a colonialist view of Black syncretic Christian/occult practices, a plot about a jazz musician selling his soul, and even the shocking final twist. It's still not clear to us exactly what movie's success started angelslop, but we theorize it may have been WINGS OF DESIRE, combined with a broad pop cultural yearning for spiritual guidance as the rise of instantaneous mass media coverage of world crises led people to cynicism and skepticism. Regardless of the cause, ANGEL HEART provides an artistic touch to the angelslop genre that alternates between campy and deep. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

This intense Bible fanfiction thriller starring Christopher Walken is now heralded as a cult classic despite not being critically understood at the time of its release. The New York Times described it as "…bad enough to end the recent proliferation of religious thrillers." It's true that the 1990s were filled with religious thrillers -- we at Boys' Bible Study have extensively covered the "angelslop" and "devilslop" that proliferated through the era, with audiences fascinated by Christian pop culture moral frameworks imbued on human life. But the New York Times is completely wrong — THE PROPHECY has stood the test of time as the BEST of the 90s religious thrillers, in part because its timeless tone doesn't rely on the groan-inducing "smart, sexy, funny" humor typical to the decade. THE PROPHECY is instead gritty and otherworldly, with impressive visual effects and character design that rival the HELLRAISER franchise. Its well-researched Biblical scripture lends it credibility, and its fictional expansion of the Bible — centering on a lost 23rd book of Revelation, known only to angels — is written so convincingly it feels nearly realistic. The film takes place in contemporary Los Angeles, where a priest-turned-LAPD detective (Elias Koteas) uses his knowledge of Christianity to solve a case of biblical proportions. A mysterious dead body carrying an ancient Bible with unknown additional text is autopsied to reveal biology in common with an unborn fetus, initiating the detective into a modern-day war between angels and demons over the soul of a disgraced cannibal Korean War veteran whose power could tip the metaphysical scale of evil and turn earth into a second hell. The film is notable for its A-list cast, including a show-stealing appearance by Viggo Mortensen as Satan, and for its treatment of Native American mythology. Although we at BBS can't confirm the film's accuracy, the portrayal of indigenous religion feels well-researched and respectful — a unique fusion of indigenous and western mythologies that reads as a genuine lesson in cross-cultural respect. THE PROPHECY is the rare religious-themed film that is both entertaining and well-researched, stimulating on whatever spiritual level the viewer receives it. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! $5 pledge gets you bonus episodes and $20 enters you in our monthly handmade DVD mailing program "Bootleg Bible Study"!   http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Perhaps the best of the 1990s films fixated on pop Christian themes (that we affectionately call "angelslop" or, if more appropriate: "devilslop"), THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE is a wildly entertaining film that despite being firmly secular, manages to hit a ton of tropes we associate with the Christian film genre. Keanu Reeves stars as Kevin Lomax, a small town defense lawyer with an impressive undefeated winning streak. He's scouted by Al Pacino as John Milton, the head of an acclaimed New York City law firm, who wants to change Lomax's life by adding him to the roster. Eagle-eared viewers may recognize the name John Milton as a reference to the author of legendary Bible fanfiction Paradise Lost. This might be your first indication that Pacino's character is the devil himself, that Reeves's character is about to make a Faustian bargain, and that the legal system is about to be used as an allegory for Christian morality. This is the most 1990s trope imaginable, an era when filmmakers were obsessed with elevating the mundane by showing it as a backdrop between the battle between angels and demons. Another distinctly 1990s decadence is needing the movie to be "smart, sexy, funny" — when THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE does rarely jump the shark into groan-inducing campiness, it's when the film attempts to flatter the viewer's sense of sophistication. However it's still a welcome nostalgic departure from mainstream movies nowadays that openly market themselves as slop from a trough for the lowest bidder. But it's the smart writing and impressive production design that makes THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE's heavy handed tropes and conservative morality feel delightfully predictable instead of tediously formulaic. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

This sequel to what is now regarded as one of the most beloved Christian films of all time (THE BUTTERCREAM GANG) misses the mark by messing with the original formula. Released only one year after the original, THE BUTTERCREAM GANG: SECRET OF TREASURE MOUNTAIN feels like a completely different series by focusing on a GOONIES-style adventure subplot instead of the friendship between the ButterCreamers. The original idea of the ButterCream Gang is that they were a group of neighborhood boys who do good deeds; the new generation now admits girls (woke much?) and seems to have forgotten entirely about helping the community, save for a lemonade stand fundraiser here and there. Several original cast members returned for round two, yet SECRET OF TREASURE MOUNTAIN picks a new boy named Eldon and introduces conflict based on his insecurity over not being seen as a "hero" among the band of do-gooders. Fortunately for Eldon, an opportunity to gain some much-needed recognition arrives when he stumbles upon an old document, written in Spanish, that appears to be a treasure map on what is now the property of beloved neighborhood figure Mr. Graff. Conveniently, a Spanish archeologist named Dr. Almodovar has recently come to town and can help the children follow the map to a mysterious treasure they hope will raise the funds to save Mr. Graff's property. Little do Eldon and the ButterCreamers know that Dr. Almodovar is actually a descendant of a Spanish conquistador, seen in a flashback at the beginning of the film, attempting to find hidden gold cursed by monks. This is the first Christian movie we've ever watched attributing to monks the ability to put curses on things, but sure enough, Eldon follows the trail to a mysterious local monastery. Can Eldon's pure heart outsmart the conniving Dr. Almodovar and put the gold to good use, preventing Eldon from falling to the curse that has harmed everyone else who tried to snatch it? SECRET OF TREASURE MOUNTAIN has the bones to be an entertaining family film, but its haphazardly paced writing strips away the real story of friendship that made the original BUTTERCREAM GANG become firmly entrenched in millennial Christian nostalgia. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Subscribe to our Twitch for livestreams: http://twitch.tv/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy