Alabama Snake

"Alabama Snake" (2020 release; 85 min.) is a documentary about the strange Alabama folklore of snake handling during religious "Pentacostal" services, and how things got out of hand. After introducing us to East Tennessee State University folklorist Thomas Burton, we go to Chapter 1 "Bite Nite", and it is "October 4, 1991, Scottsboro, Alabama", where the paramedics are called on the scene with a woman (Darlene) claiming that her husband Glenn tried to kill her with snake bites. Say what?!?

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from producer-director Theo Love, who just last year produced the enjoyable "McMillions" mini-series. Here he digs (with a major assist from Thomas Burton, on whose research the film is based) into the strange but still thriving subculture in pockets of communities that use snake handling in their religious services. Along the way we get the story of Glenn Summer ford, who is accused of attempted murder of his wife. The two appear separate and parallel stories, but you just wait and see how it all comes together. The movie is divided in 5 Chapters and an Epilogue, and flows by quickly. One reason that I don't rate this movie higher is the dearth of archival footage, and instead the film has plenty of 'reenacted' scenes, which I am not a fan of.

"Alabama Snake" premiered on HBO last month, and is now available on HBO On Demand and other streaming platforms. If you are curious about the strange folklore of snake handling in religious services,. or are simply looking for a decent documentary to watch, I'd suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

This doc lays out a story of accounts from those in or around the attempted murder of an Appalachian mother, and they tell their stories as to how events unfolded before them almost 30 years ago.

The most interesting accounts being from the convicted husband, and the abused wife (who, unfortunately, was most likely high on meth in this doc). He laid out what he knew from prison when he was interviewed decades ago - she laid out what she knew in this doc (while she was tweaked out of her mind.).

It's not really a doc with firsthand footage, it's a doc with firsthand / secondhand / thirdhand accounts explaining what they remembered, saw or knew. And I must say, everyone told their stories very well.

While oral history is told, you'll frequently have acted footage shown - one of the rare instances where this didn't take away from the doc, but rather added to it. The small amount of historical footage shown paints the scene at the time, while the spoken accounts tell the actual story.

Side note: Religion is interesting, good or bad. With that said... this isn't a movie about religion, nor is this a move about politics. This is more of a human interest doc - real folklore if you will.

The fact there's a review claiming this is a "left wing" doc with an "anti religion agenda" is mind boggling to me. That's not the case at all, and it's sad to see people claiming such - so much so that I decided to create an account just to make this review...

Documentary fans, you will enjoy this story, and it'll keep you hooked as the story unfolds.

If you can get through the backwards grammar, it's a fairly interesting story. Trailer parks rule and roll tide.

More characters needed. Am I close to 150?????

I truly appreciated the organizing structure of this documentary. I found the historical information compelling and the interviews were insightful and seamless.

Utter nonsense. An hour and five minutes in, with only twenty minutes remaining, I could no longer stand it.

I'm not from that area, nor am I of that religion, but from an outsider's point of view, all of these people have either bought into the falsehoods repeated to them over the years or they are just crazy. I can't say whether or not Glenn Summerford was trying to kill his wife, but the fact that he didn't take her to a doctor after she was bitten by a RATTLESNAKE because it was simply "in God's hands" is criminal in itself.

The only reason I gave it three stars instead of one is because of the documentary's production. With that said, letting these people spew their absolute nonsense for an hour and a half is a waste of airtime. With the exception of the first responders, and maybe his first wife, there are no redeeming characters, and certainly no worthwhile storyline.