Alabama Snake

Alabama Snake, a 2020 documentary film directed by Theo Love, is a penetrating exploration into the life of Glenn Summerford, as well as the enthralling world of religious snake handling in rural Alabama. This captivating tale of faith, crime and desperation unearths culture, belief systems, and a real-life ordeal that raises haunting questions about truth and innocence.

Immersed in the misty, forested landscape of Scottsboro, Alabama, the documentary weaves an intricate tale of religion, serpents, and attempted murder. At the heart of this narrative is Glenn Summerford, a former truck driver and moonshiner turned religious fanatic who was convicted of attempting to murder his wife using a rattlesnake. It was alleged that he shoved his wife's hand into a box of venomous snakes to test her faith. The story of Glenn Summerford doesn't have its roots on that fateful night, it is firmly rooted in Appalachia’s tradition of snake handling and worshiping in the Holiness Pentecostal tradition.

Guiding us through this true story, the film incorporates interviews with distressed family members, excerpts from the court trial, and captivating testimonials from Appalachia residents. The realist storytelling style leaves the viewer spellbound, painted with a subtlety that is as disturbing in its calm as it is in its delivery. The terrific interviews and narrative commentaries serve to create a vivid portrayal of the characters involved in this deeply unsettling act.

In the role of Glenn Summerford is the man himself. His portrayal on-screen is profound as the documentary dips into his life, his tormented past, and his transformative journey to an extreme religious devotion. His ex-wife and attempted murder victim, Darlene Summerford, presents an emotionally riveting account of her life with Glenn and the tale fraught with gore, dread, and the undying will to survive.

Alongside dynamic interviews, the film brings to the fore some haunting 'home video' footage that pulls the curtain back on snake-handling rituals. These visceral snippets not only offer an intimate glimpse into the obscure, thrill-seeking, evangelical religious tradition but also provide a stark contrast to the conservative Bible Belt region. The intense video imagery and well-paced storytelling make every bit of this documentary riveting and intense.

The film also features Dr. Thomas Burton, an eminent folklorist who first brought to light the enigmatic world of snake-handling in the Appalachia region. His insights into these deeply entrenched religious practices act as an underpinning guide to the film narrative. Together, the stories of these three key characters mesh together to form a piercing narrative that delves deep into belief frameworks, rural ethos, and the human capacity for survival.

The atmospheric and spine-chilling narrative set against the backdrop of a heartland gripped with poverty and predisposed to fire-and-brimstone preaching makes Alabama Snake captivating till the very end. Emphasizing not just the track of events that unfolded in the Summerford’s life, the film also paints a vivid picture of the community and the religious culture surrounding it.

Director Theo Love masterfully oscillates between the magnetic and the repulsive aspects of snake handling orthodoxies and the sensational real-life trial that shook Scottsboro to its core. The narration does an exquisite job of immersing the audience into the spine-tingling world of faith, deception, and the unflinching will to survive. It's an intense yet understated look at how religious fanaticism can manifest in a community.

In Alabama Snake, Love manages to shed light on an almost mystical form of worship that at once fascinates, repels, and moves its audience. This multifaceted production is an excellent pick for lovers of true crime, culture exploration, and religious rituals in America's Deep South. The film seamlessly transitions from hard reality to spiritual mystique and back, without losing a beat.

Overall, Alabama Snake is a vibrant and unsettling exploration of faith and fanaticism. It presents an account of a controversial, lesser-known religious practice and a riveting real-life courtroom drama. The movie serves as a chilling reminder that truth, much like faith, is often elusive and varies from one perspective to another. By intertwining the personal with the cultural, and the realistic with the fanatic, Alabama Snake crafts a narrative that prompts reflection and provokes thought.