What This Major Motion Picture Gets Wrong About Christianity
By Movieguide® Stuff
THEM THAT FOLLOW has made recent headlines for its portrayal of Christianity, but how much of the movie was accurate and how much was meant to startle audiences? Read the Movieguide® review summary below to find out!
Click here for the full review.
THEM THAT FOLLOW is a gripping, brooding movie about the religious practices of a small Christian Pentecostal snake-handling sect in the heart of Appalachia. Setting aside the menacing poisonous snake aspect, which is always hanging over the story like a thick dark cloud, this movie is really about unrequited love and the conflicts that arise from being unequally yoked, which include the unfortunate consequences of youthful sexual indiscretion.
The manner in which the various characters in the story deal with the unexpected circumstances in which they find themselves within the confines of their religious faith, and how they manage their circumstances, ultimately defines the narrative of the movie, gives rich food for thought to viewers. Although this might be expected given the story’s setting, there are a few instances of intense violence, as well as some brief instances of smoking, drinking and foul language that are objectionable. So, viewers should consider these problems before making a decision to sit through this somewhat theologically misleading but taut emotional drama.
The movie opens with Mara (Alice Englert) showing a poisonous snake in its nest at the river’s edge to her boyfriend Augie (Thomas Mann). Right at that moment, the action abruptly cuts to a kitchen scene where Mara is washing the dishes at home, and it appears that she was just daydreaming.
After finishing up her tasks, Mara meets her younger friend and neighbor, Dilly (Kaitlyn Dever). Both of them head out to the nearby country store where they purchase a few sundries. During a brief moment when nobody is looking, Mara takes a small package from one of the shelves and puts it in her purse. The movie later reveals the stolen item was a pregnancy kit, and the reason for stealing it was that Mara didn’t want anybody to wonder why she would need such a thing in that tightly knit community. It appears Mara has been dating Augie surreptitiously while keeping their relationship a secret because she also happens to be Pastor Lemuel’s (Walton Goggins) daughter, and Augie is not a Christian. Mara loves him, however, and wishes he would come to the faith and attend church with her, but Augie won’t have any of it.
Meanwhile, Garrett (Lewis Pullman), a handsome young suitor, who’s a member of the church, begins courting Mara with her father’s approval. Caving under her father’s pressure, Mara goes along with plans that will lead to their eventual marriage. A short time later, however, Mara finds out she’s is pregnant with Augie’s baby, and tries to rekindle their relationship hoping that he will finally start coming to church. However, Augie’s adamant and informs Mara he’s actually planning to go away.
Mara chooses not to tell Augie she’s pregnant. However, he eventually finds out about it from his mother, Hope (Olivia Colman), who is also a member of Pastor Lemuel’s church and had examined Mara earlier confirming that she was in fact pregnant. When Augie finds out, his mother berates him angrily, and he breaks out into an uncontained emotional outburst, weeping long and bitterly as he faces the reality of what happened.
That very night, Augie attends Mara’s church seemingly to make things right. At one point during the service, he decides to walk forward to the pulpit, and Pastor Lemuel leads him to participate in the snake-handling ceremony, with disastrous results. What follows is a cascading succession of fateful events where almost every member of the small church is tested in some aspect of their faith. This forces them to confront the conflict that emerges between their beliefs and their lifestyles, leading to some unexpected outcomes.
The practice of snake handling in worship by some small Christian sects began and spread in the early to mid-1900s. It emerged from an unsupported interpretation of the Gospel of Mark 16:18 where it states that Christians will take up serpents and is later illustrated in Acts 28:3-6 by the Apostle Paul handling a poisonous snake without being killed, even though it clung to him and bit him. The use of snakes in worship has thus remained a fringe practice through the years but has never been validated, because it is clear from Scripture, and supported by relevant Commentaries, that, in the case of Paul, this was a single occurrence that took place without any related act of sacrifice or worship on his part, while Jesus himself admonished against these types of practices when he rejected Satan’s challenge in Matthew chapter 4:5-7.
Sadly, the screenplay appears to have been written from a cursory knowledge of Christianity rather than from deep religious study. Sometimes research alone isn’t the same as having a more grounded understanding of the Christian faith, which comes from being an integral part of a community of believers. To make things worse, the movie makes snake-handling an integral part of the story. Eventually, this plays more like a silly gimmick meant to drive the narrative forward than enlighten viewers. In the end, THEM THAT FOLLOWS leaves viewers with a plot that often doesn’t ring true. That said, some of the underlying situations and the romance at the story’s core are still very powerful in their own right. Those parts provide a poignant study of human passion and misguided faith in the backwoods of the heartland.
Walton Goggins, who stars as the mercurial, headstrong shepherd of the small snake-handling flock, brings to the screen a level of intensity that doesn’t let up until the very end. Alice Englert as the pastor’s daughter is equally commendable, although coming from the opposite end for portraying a quiet inner desperation while she cries out to God in repentance, to be delivered from her mistakes. Augie, as the intense but aloof young man, provides a fitting but reluctant soul mate for Mara. Augie wants to do the right thing first and accept the Lord second. Not to be left behind, Lewis Pullman as Garrett rounds out the love triangle as the immature, carnal foil whose flesh-driven passions betray his faith.
Ultimately, THEM THAT FOLLOW is intense and gripping but ultimately unsatisfying, despite a well-dramatized third act. It has a strong Romantic worldview with a feminist subtext that implicitly depicts more traditional Christian beliefs as oppressive, especially to women. Its overt Christian references contain false theology. For example, snake handling is seen as an appropriate test of one’s faith and commitment to God. Also, the romance between the star-crossed lovers is seen as more valuable than Christian faith. Finally, THEM THAT FOLLOW contains brief foul language and intense violence involving deadly snakes, and a character being threatened with a shotgun.
Media-wise viewers, especially Christian ones, will find the movie unacceptable. Other viewers may be misled by the movie’s depiction of Christianity.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +1