Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

  • Starring: Mike Papantonio
  • Summary: A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement. This documentary, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, directors of the critically acclaimed "The Boys of Baraka," follows Levi, Rachael, and Tory to Pastor Becky Fischer's "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where kids as young as 6 years-old are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in "God's army." (Magnolia Pictures) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 28
  2. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    88
    The fact that Pastor Fischer would probably consider the film an accurate portrayal of her mission may be the most terrifying thing of all.
  2. Reviewed by: Owen Williams
    80
    Funny, sad and horrifying. Anti-fundamentalist rather than anti-Christian, this deserves to preach to more than just the converted.
  3. Reviewed by: KJ Doughton
    60
    Jesus Camp works nicely as a time-capsule document confirming the impact -- and popularity -- of American evangelism.
  4. Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    30
    The doc these kids would make with flea market camcorders couldn't possibly be as ugly as this absurdly hypocritical critique of the far right's role in escalating the culture war. The classier indoctrination to which Gap-shopping urban Democrats subject their kids might look damn spooky, too, but it probably wouldn't sell.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. M.S
    10
    It's so difficult to watch this as a Christian and wonder where these people went wrong. What message are these people listening to? If the Christian God does indeed exist he has to be shaking his head in disgust at the people who twist the moral teachings of the Bible to corrupt children and breed hatred. This documentary is a real eye opener about a hypocritical religious and cultural crisis we face here at home. Before we fight terrorism we need to take a look at ourselves in the mirror. Collapse
  2. PeterJ.
    8
    Great documentary of a clan of brain washing morons. Child abuse at it's finest.
  3. A very disturbing look at the growing radical Christians in the US. The film tries very hard to be unbiased by not including a narrator, but the filmmakers use the radio show host to bluntly voice their views. My only complaint is that it hits it point very early on and just rehashes it again and again through the rest of the film. But hey, it was enough to get the crazy camp closed down, so I applaud the filmmakers. Expand
  4. AdamL
    4
    The fact that one of the comments below compares twenty-first century Evangelicals with members of the Taliban shows just how uninformed most Americans are about Christianity. Disagreeing with a religion that preaches peace and love over all else is one thing; likening the more enthusiastic members of its parish to woman-hating mass murderers is another, and pretty abominable. Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

Trailers