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Alabama Snake

  • 2020
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
834
YOUR RATING
Alabama Snake (2020)
Alabama Snake explores the story of Oct. 4, 1991, when a violent crime was reported in the town of Scottsboro, Alabama. Glenn Summerford, a Pentecostal minister, was accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake. The details of the investigation and the trial that followed have "haunted Southern Appalachia for decades." Alabama Snake features local historian and folklorist, Thomas Burton, who has spent his life studying the culture, beliefs, and folklore of Pentecostal snake handlers, painting a "Southern Gothic portrait" of Summerford and his tale of demon possession.
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CrimeDocumentary

Explores the story of a Pentecostal minister, accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake. Based on true events!Explores the story of a Pentecostal minister, accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake. Based on true events!Explores the story of a Pentecostal minister, accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake. Based on true events!

  • Director
    • Theo Love
  • Writers
    • Thomas G. Burton
    • Theo Love
    • Bryan Storkel
  • Stars
    • Glenn Summerford
    • Darlene Summerford
    • Thomas G. Burton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    834
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Theo Love
    • Writers
      • Thomas G. Burton
      • Theo Love
      • Bryan Storkel
    • Stars
      • Glenn Summerford
      • Darlene Summerford
      • Thomas G. Burton
    • 11User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:34
    Official Trailer

    Photos12

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    Top cast32

    Edit
    Glenn Summerford
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Darlene Summerford
    • Self
    Thomas G. Burton
    • Self…
    Doris Summerford
    • Self - Glenn's first wife
    Marty Summerford
    • Self
    Heather Summerford
    • Self - Marty's wife
    Bill Billions
    Bill Billions
    • Gene
    Rich Bransford
    Rich Bransford
    • Policeman
    Brian Brightman
    Brian Brightman
    • Glenn's Stepdad
    Brannon Bruno
    Brannon Bruno
    • Policeman
    Erin Carere
    Erin Carere
    • Darlene
    Bobby Carson
    • Ambulance Driver
    Hugh Cook
    • Cousin #1
    Cliff Craig
    Cliff Craig
    • Glenn
    Caspian Diament
    Caspian Diament
    • Young Marty
    Major Dodge Jr.
    Major Dodge Jr.
    • Young Glenn
    Alex Haynes
    Alex Haynes
    • Bartender
    Sheena V. Henderson
    Sheena V. Henderson
    • Nurse
    • Director
      • Theo Love
    • Writers
      • Thomas G. Burton
      • Theo Love
      • Bryan Storkel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    5.5834
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    Featured reviews

    5zachgibson-11436

    ???

    Darlene is 100% off her rocker on drugs, let's get that out of the way. I don't know what happened but everybody somehow was a witness to a demon at some point in this film. Not real sure what I just watched lmao his first wife seemed to be the only semi sane person. "I had a demon in him. I seen it. Done banished the demon out the room, he told me to call it back so I did, and it took him" it was like I was watching a scene out of Trailer Park Boys only not as funny. Nobody in this documentary had above a grade 10 to quote Ricky of TPB. Just utter nonsense the whole time. 5 stars bc it was entertaining for a late night laugh.
    8billsoccer

    Gripping!

    A story about a Pentecostal minister who may have used a snake to try to kill his wife! She certainly was bit, but the question is - did she do it herself or did he make her? Don't be put off by the fringe religious practices. While featured, this isn't a story about them, or religion in general. There is some actual film from the incident - which is pretty helpful. Several cages holding many rattlers. The film explores the seedy (that's generous) past of the minister, and hints at a troubled past in his second wife's past. Both are quite uneducated. The film does a great job of unearthing many living witnesses and legal transcripts, but most of all the interviews of the first 2 wives and the minister himself.
    6bt698nhj

    Alabama Folks Are DAF

    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?????
    8aSchizoCat

    A well told story of an Appalachian family and a "reformed" Pentecostal snake handler husband

    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.
    8patriciacmurphy

    Strong Narrative Structure

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

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This crime was also the subject of the books Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington (published in 1995 by Da Capo Press / Addison-Wesley and a finalist for the National Book Award in nonfiction) and The Serpent And The Spirit: Glenn Summerford's Story by Thomas Burton (published in 2004 by the University of Tennessee Press).

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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 2020 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official HBO Documentaries site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Змея из Алабамы
    • Filming locations
      • Scottsboro, Alabama, USA(location)
    • Production companies
      • DreamCo
      • HBO Documentary Films
      • Sidestilt
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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