Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
HELLBOUND?Movie Reviews
Documentary about whether hell exists, featuring authors, theologians, pastors, social commentators and musicians sharing their views on the topic. Cast:Lazar Puhalo, Bob Larson, Brad Jersak, Brian McLaren, Chad HoltzDirector:Kevin MillerRelease Date:September 21, 2012DVD Release:May 28, 2013From:Area23aLength:1 hr 25 min
MAY 28, 2013
Hellbound?, Good (Not Great) Reviews (Doc) Limited
Hellbound? played in limited release to good not great reviews. • Kerry Lengel wrote in the Arizona Republic, "...an engaging, accessible documentary that explores the (truly) eternal questions, 'Does hell exist? If so, who ends up there, and why?' " • And Andrew Schenker wrote for Slant, "...proves fitfully engaging..." More Reviews Below...
Hellbound? has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: GOOD "...giving the little-served Christian market a thought-provoking alternative to smarmy features like 'Fireproof'... for most of the way, it is substantive and evenhanded."(See all of Neil Genzlinger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 190 words, 09/21/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Is hell eternal? Is it redemptive or annihilative? Does it exist at all?.... If only there were some actual, y'know, answers -- which may be the point."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 09/28/12
Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "...as filled with good intentions as it clearly is, the film feels painfully earnest throughout as well as cluttered and only occasionally illuminating."(See all of Bruce DeMara's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 274 words, 10/26/12
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...any admirer of good talk will be impressed by the scholasticism and pulpit-trained oratory here, as well as some choice fighting words..."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 208 words, 09/19/12
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...balances controversy with enough thoughtful, intellectual deconstructions to fill a satisfying one-hour TV special... fascinating stuff until the doc overstays its welcome..."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 184 words, 10/25/12
KEY CITIES (2 Reviews)
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: WEAK(cg) "...haphazard... First, one man's dogma is another's heresy. Second, some people are inclined to offer the final word on matters of which they have no firsthand knowledge."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 103 words, 09/21/12
Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "...an engaging, accessible documentary that explores the (truly) eternal questions, 'Does hell exist? If so, who ends up there, and why?' "(See all of Kerry Lengel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 518 words, 10/05/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...any admirer of good talk will be impressed by the scholasticism and pulpit-trained oratory here, as well as some choice fighting words..."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 208 words, 09/19/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...proves fitfully engaging, but it soon turns into a touchy-feely isn't-it-wonderful-we're-all-saved love fest as the universalists begin to dominate the interview segments..."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 442 words, 09/16/12
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...balances controversy with enough thoughtful, intellectual deconstructions to fill a satisfying one-hour TV special... fascinating stuff until the doc overstays its welcome..."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 184 words, 10/25/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: GOOD "...giving the little-served Christian market a thought-provoking alternative to smarmy features like 'Fireproof'... for most of the way, it is substantive and evenhanded."(See all of Neil Genzlinger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 190 words, 09/21/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Is hell eternal? Is it redemptive or annihilative? Does it exist at all?.... If only there were some actual, y'know, answers -- which may be the point."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 09/28/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: GOOD "...sober, stimulating... achieves a level of rhetorical eloquence that would theoretically appeal to open-minded viewers of any religious stripe."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 656 words, 09/23/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Is hell eternal? Is it redemptive or annihilative? Does it exist at all?.... If only there were some actual, y'know, answers -- which may be the point."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 09/28/12
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: GOOD "...giving the little-served Christian market a thought-provoking alternative to smarmy features like 'Fireproof'... for most of the way, it is substantive and evenhanded."(See all of Neil Genzlinger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 190 words, 09/21/12
13.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Hellbound?'s reviews are separated by an average 13.7 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Hellbound? (10 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Hellbound?'s reviews cover 9.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 2,993 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 299 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 6 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Hellbound?'s reviews on average broke 6 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Hellbound?'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Hellbound? (10 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
