Entertaining throughout and highly informative, Hail Satan? might just be the most thought-provoking film I’ve seen in years.
One might wonder, “Why would one choose to call themself a Satanist?” Why would one wish to worship or associate with something most consider to be evil? The answer isn’t as crystal clear as one might think.
To most people — mainly those who don’t think about it much or those who don’t allow themselves the freedom to question things — Satan simply represents the devil. The Satanic Temple, an organization founded in 2013, doesn’t see Satan that way at all. To them, Satan represents opposition to the increasing influence of Christianity on politics and the law. In fact, the tenets of The Satanic Temple may sound more in line with Christianity’s morals than you might expect.
Hail Satan?, a documentary by director Penny Lane, aims to clear up some misconceptions about The Satanic Temple and their mission. We learn from the film that the group is nontheistic. They don’t believe in Satan as a deity. What they believe in is rationality and compassion for others.
Through interviews with the group’s members we hear that many of them feel that simply being atheist was too boring. The Satanic Temple doesn’t exist to mock Christianity, they say. They exist because they want to point out that blind faith is dangerous. Their imagery, which may shock and offend some, is meant to provoke a reaction. If you find yourself being offended, you’re not getting their point. And, actually, that is the point.
The film opens with the group planning and executing a rally in support of then Florida Governor, Rick Scott. Scott has expressed his support for prayer in schools. The group comes out in favor of Scott’s decision because, surely, that means that children who worship Satan instead of God would be able to practice that in schools too, right? Because that’s what freedom of religion truly means, right? Even though the rally is sparsely attended, the group garners plenty of free publicity via the media coverage the event receives. Prominently featured is the banner that reads, “Hail Satan! Hail Rick Scott!”
Later in the film, one of the group’s most publicized battles unfolds in Oklahoma. The temple commissions a statue of Baphomet to be displayed next to the Ten Commandments outside of the state capitol. When asked why they think the Oklahoma state government would agree to display such a statue, the group asks why they’d display the Ten Commandments at the exclusion of other religions. When the state removes the Ten Commandments from the capitol grounds, the temple rescinds their attempt to have Baphomet installed.
What initially seems to be a film about a bunch of misfits trying to troll the system becomes an eye-opening look at how deeply ingrained the notion that the United States is a Christian nation has become. In fact, it is not. Nor has it ever been. And while they definitely don’t look like it, The Satanic Temple attempts to spread a message of acceptance and civility.
If the film has a fault, aside from the religious crowds who gather to protest The Satanic Temple’s events, there’s nary a critical opinion displayed about the group. There’s a split in the ranks late in the movie as the leader of the Detroit chapter threatens violence against the government and is effectively ex-communicated. Otherwise, you’d be hard-pressed to find any faults in the film’s view of the group.
Entertaining throughout and highly informative, Hail Satan? might just be the most thought-provoking film I’ve seen in years.
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
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