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The feverish spectacle of a summer camp for evangelical Christian kids is the focus of Jesus Camp, a fascinating if sometimes alarming documentary. (Shortly after its release, the movie gained a new notoriety when Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, who appears near the end of the film, resigned his post amid a male prostitute's allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct.) For most of the film, we follow a charismatic teacher, Becky Fischer, as she trains young soldiers in "God's Army" at a camp in North Dakota. Some of the kids emerge as likable and bright, and eager to continue their work as pint-sized preachers; elsewhere, the visions of children speaking in tongues and falling to the floor in ecstasy are more troubling. Even more arresting is the vision of a generation of children home-schooled to believe that the Bible is science, or Fischer's certainty that America's flawed system of democracy will someday be replaced by a theocracy. (In one scene, a cardboard cut-out of George W. Bush is presented to the children, who react by laying their hands on the figure as though in a religious procession.) Filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady maintain neutrality about all this, maybe too much so (they throw in some interviews with radio host Mike Papantonio to provide a liberal-Christian viewpoint) and one would like to know more about the grown-ups presented here. Power broker Haggard is the creepiest person in the film, an insincere smooth talker whose advice to one of the young would-be campgoers comes across as entirely cynical. Time will tell whether the film's Christian soldiers will be marching onward. --Robert Horton

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Details

Cast: Alan J. Levi, Mike Papantonio, Becky Fischer, Ted Haggard
Director: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Genre: Documentary
Release Date: September 15, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
DVD Release Date: January 23, 2007
Runtime: 87 minutes
Studio: A&E IndieFilms, Loki Films

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25 Ratings: +3.1

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review by rbuchanan. August 12, 2011

...kind of being trained to be warriors, only IN A MUCH FUNNER WAY

Controversy in promotion of this video was largely generated by media hype in order to advertise it as a shocking exposé. If you're a sheltered suburbanite who receives all of their news via NPR, believes everything they see on TV and thrills to elections paid by the public featuring candidates purchased by special interest groups, then this is sure to disturb you. I watched this to see insane Christers doing outrageous things for my amusement, and while their conduct is embarrassing, … more

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Quick Tip by bmcintire4. July 27, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by bmcintire4

A crazy crazy crazy documentary.. you have to see it to believe it. They def. believe in something.

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Quick Tip by QUEENBFLIX. January 28, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by QUEENBFLIX

Freakiest part is when they haul out a standee of George Dubya and have the kids all praying at him...or is it to him? Hard to tell. =)

Comment Compliments (3)

Quick Tip by devora. September 08, 2009

A Quick Tip by devora

I'm not an evangelist, nor religious for that matter, so this movie creeps me out. Interesting to see the insider perspective though.

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Quick Tip by Ukedude. September 08, 2009

A Quick Tip by Ukedude

This is really really creepy. Especially since the Christian Right is neither.

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review by C_Merced. February 06, 2008

A horror movie

I wasn't even done with the film when I started writing this. This is more than a documentary, this is a horror movie. I first want to explain my own impressions of the subject of the film and then the documentary itself. First, it is disturbing to me seeing this kind of, shall we say brainwashing? The adults in this film brainwashed and indoctrinated into several disturbing beliefs. First of all, they regarded George Bush as a sort of saviour, an ideal of morality. They taught creationism … more

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review by cyclone_march. March 11, 2007

posted in Movie Hype

"Man's decision, whatever; God's decision, something"

Pros: Still too shocked to say Cons: Still too shocked to say The Bottom Line: Because they are children, this is one of the most difficult documentaries I have ever watched. Plot Details: This opinion reveals everything about the movie''s plot. I had to watch the documentary Jesus Camp in pieces. It is a 75 minute piece that took me hours to watch because of the anger and confusion it caused. … more

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review by Lily45. July 03, 2007

Mixed Reaction

Pros: Provides glimpses into the Evangelical movement Cons: Marked lack of Scripture; irrelevant comments by Papantonio The Bottom Line: This is a good film, but could use some Scripture references. Plot Details: This opinion reveals everything about the movie's plot. INTRODUCTION: I rented this film from Blockbuster approximately one month ago and had mixed feelings about it, though not in the areas … more

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review by JP_Rocky_Raccoon. February 01, 2007

posted in Movie Hype

Theocracy Vs. Oligarchy

`Jesus Camp' is a revealing document of the right-wing evangelical movement. Like many people of any political or religious group, the old addage, "God is on our side," is worn on most players' sleeves. In the crossfire is Becky Fischer, Pentecostal evangelical children's minister and Mike Papantonio, radio host of the "Ring of Fire" program. They are both at the heart of the left/right, red/blue, theocracy vs. oligarchy divide in our nation. At the time of the filming, Sandra Day O'Connor retired … more

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review by amoslassen. January 25, 2007

Oddly American

"JESUS CAMP" Oddly American Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride "Jesus Camp" (Magnolia) is built around a Pentecostal minister who runs a summer camp for young children and the families that send their children there. This is a "right-on" look at an American subculture and I found it particularly alarming. The moving is both a damning and sublet look about a religious movement that isolates children from the mainstream and brainwashes … more

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