Michael Parks’ performance as the pernicious preacher, Pastor Abin Cooper is just one good reason to see Kevin Smith’s latest irreverence, RED STATE (MA).

Another is John Goodman’s good man in evil circumstances turn as ATF agent, Joseph Keenan, who utters the summation lines, “People just do the strangest things when they believe they’re entitled. But they do even stranger things when they just plain believe”.

Cooper is leader of a sick sect of Christendom whose hatred of homosexuals is homicidal. When he kidnaps three horny teenagers, he tries and tortures them in his tabernacle, his homily a hyper-articulate hate speech for his congregation of consanguine kith and kin, who gladly gladwrap and gun down their captives.

The immoderate remarks made in the monologue are so beautifully mellifluous and modulated by Parks delivery and tone you can understand the charismatic thrall his God fearing flock hold him in. They are all committed and should be committed- to an asylum.

All hell breaks loose when the cult’s compound is surrounded by government agents commanded by Keenan. He’s conscious of avoiding another Waco fiasco, but higher authority orders him to tackle the situation as if it were a terrorist cell using deadly force with extreme prejudice. First and second amendments of the United States Constitution on catastrophic collision course. Armageddon and apocalypse–amen.

The target here is extreme fundamentalism, in this case home grown, and just as an affront to homeland security as foreign religious zealots. Profound and profane, contrary, controversial and confronting – a must see.

(C)Richard Cotter

7th October, 2011