Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul (2022)

[Edgy MD]

A scumdiculously corrupt Evangelical Prosperity Gospel pastor plans his comeback following a scandalous downfall that dare not speak its name. He and his wife, billed as the church's "first lady," invite a documentary crew to follow their path back to prominence, leading to some awkward strains as they grin with the love of Jesus and try to brush past the realities of the their downfall and their abandonment by their large congregation.



Streaming now on Peacock. In theaters too, and possibly on Amazon.



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[Edgy MD]

This turned out to be a really impressive film, for a feature debut by the director, or for any film. It's also a heckuva showcase for Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall as well.



As noted above, the story is followed by a documentary crew, but it's not always clear when you're watching the principals through the lens of the documentarian or whether you're seeing something else outside that footage. But while the self-delusion of figures flailing in their careers as they insist they're flourishing immediately calls to mind the absurd joys of This is Spinal Tap*, and these are funny, the film doesn't just wash itself in the easy pleasures of satirical sendups. While there's something you might like about these two horrible people — their devotion to a each other and to a faith that seems to be genuine despite it's horrible theology and open use as a vehicle for exploitation — the filmmakers don't flinch from showing you the real wages of this enterprise. You get to be a fly on the wall as the minister attempts to groom a potential victim, and you get to see the wife degrade herself time and time again, even as her whole brand seems to be about self-realization and dignity, ultimately choosing her self-interested path back to queenship of a tiny kingdom over the dignity of one her husband's victims. This moments were awkward, gross, and cringey, but you feel you feel morally compelled to bear witness anyhow. I did, at any rate.



The film's greatest flaw is an unresolved ending, but for a story aimed at forcing hard conversations about The Evangelical Church, the Black Evangelical Church in particular, and Prosperity Gospel theology, the open ending forced our household, for what its worth, to keep talking about this for several days afterward. And as the fallout so many of the real American tragedies this film draws parallel to** is still happening, any resolution could feel dishonest. And anyhow, while the ending is open, it is still quite powerful.



* I have yet to figure out how to type an umlaut over an N, as Spinal Tap's standard style indicates I should do.



** The main parallel seems to be to the story of Atlanta-based pastor Eddie Long, who had a church with 25,000 members before a similar downfall in 2010.