Educational Media Reviews Online

Raise the Dead is a documentary film that covers several generations of itinerant Appalachian Pentecostal preachers. The featured Pentecostal ministers are H. Richard Hall, Mike Ferree, and Eula Shelton. The film concentrates primarily on the ministry of H. Richard Hall, who is a follower of William Branham, an evangelist who rivaled Oral Roberts as the preeminent evangelist during the forties and fifties.

Using a combination of both old archival footage and recent live color interviews, Raise the Dead examines the vanishing breed of hell fire damming, Bible shouting, faith healing, organ playing, big tent revival preachers. This interesting video shows the theological, entertainment and business aspects of itinerant preaching. Religious points covered include the "9 gifts of the spirit" as well as the concept of the preacher's "call."

The technical quality and editing of Raise the Dead are outstanding. Interesting sky/ forest tracking shots with voice over narration are an example of the unusual, consistently high quality editing. Visual clarity and color are also excellent. The vocal music used in the documentary is totality authentic, while the instrumental music is both appropriate and interesting.

This is one of the finest films made on Appalachian Pentecostal religion. Moreover, the informative content is presented without condescension or sensationalism. In addition, as a bonus, the troubled economic history of the Appalachian region is presented in parallel with the preachers lives. Highly recommended from the heart of Appalachia, Morgantown, West Virginia.