Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Pokes at Religion Absurdism in Cheeky Mocumentary

Religious movies aren’t for everyone – but Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. may just break down the barrier for audience members who wouldn’t usually actively seek a movie about religion. Instead of focusing on converting viewers, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul is shot in the mockumentary format style similar to Drop Dead Gorgeous, Best in Show, or even series like The Office, more poking at the absurd parts of Mega Churches and religion that a lot of people often criticize behind the scenes, and not around their religious family members.

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul follows Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown) and his wife Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall) in the aftermath of a scandal in their southern Baptist church. After Pastor Childs has been accused of sexual misconduct, the couple sets out on a campaign to not only get their congregation back from the new younger couple who has opened their own church but to maintain the extravagant lifestyle being church leaders has allowed them.

The movie pokes at every criticism of modern mega-churches, the lavish lifestyle, designer clothes, jets, and luxury cars. It shows the hypocrisy of the church leaders actively participating in, while still believing that they are better than the congregants in their own church. It shows the total disconnect between the leaders of the church and the reasons that people often turn away from the religions.

Shot almost exclusively as a documentary, the film shows both the perspective of Trinitie and Lee-Curtis and the handful of people who have stayed with them through the whole scandal. Other than a couple of scenes, you never see or hear the filming crew throughout the whole film. They let the situations “play out” as they do, giving the movie a more natural documentary film.

Although Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul may ruffle some feathers of viewers and make them question the need to poke at religious institutions, there will be a lot of viewers who can relate to the absurdities that unfold. It brings attention and light to some of the things that are often brushed under the rug or some of the extreme issues that people accept in the name of religion.

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul may not be for everyone, but the mockumentary is extremely entertaining while making quite a statement. The movie is thought-provoking and may challenge some views. It may seem extreme, but it’s the same situations we see play out on the news all the time.

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul opens in theaters everywhere on Friday.

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HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL: 

In HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL., proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch, Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall) carries immense responsibility on her shoulders. After a scandal involving her husband, Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown), the church is forced to close temporarily, leaving Trinitie struggling to manage the aftermath. Now Trinitie and Lee-Curtis must rebuild their congregation and reconcile their faith by all means necessary to make the biggest comeback that commodified religion has ever seen.
Starring Regina Hall, Sterling K. Brown, Austin Crute, Nicole Beharie, Selah Kimbra Jones, Devere Rogers, Conphidance, Avis- Marie Laing, Greta Glenn, and Jerome Beazer
Directed by Adamma Ebo
(Focus Features)