Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the extraordinary story of a small band of Liberian women who came together in the midst of a bloody civil war, took on the violent warlords and corrupt Charles Taylor regime, and won a long-awaited peace for their shattered country in 2003. As the rebel noose tightened upon Monrovia, and peace talks faced collapse, the women of Liberia – Christian and Muslims united - formed a thin but unshakable white line between the opposing forces, and successfully demanded an end to the fighting– armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions. (Balcony Releasing) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    100
    This illuminating film by director Gini Reticker and producer Abigail Disney is a much-needed attempt to put the spotlight on a moment of history that still inspires, especially because that moment led to Taylor's exile and to Liberia's election of Africa's first female head of state.
  2. One of the truly heartening international political stories of recent years.
  3. Powerful enough to make even the most cynical believe in the ability of ordinary people to induce political change.
  4. Reviewed by: Bob Mondello
    80
    Without their guns, the men prove surprisingly helpless. And when a representative of a larger pan-African community tells them that if they want the women to stop treating them like children, they must behave responsibly, you sense a corner has been turned.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. The subject matter is heavy and reminded me how innocent people are abused and in desperate need of empowerment. There is so much factual content that any sense of creativity is pushed aside and the pictures you see are not only harrowing but hugely depressing. The inspirational women's movement provides an upbeat counterbalance to the human destruction and gives the film a reason to exist. My concern is that there seems to be a lack of historical references which could have increased the effect. Nevertheless the story needs to be told and there is no one better to lead the narrative than the Women's Liberation Movement. We must continue to give money to charities across the world. 93/100 Expand