Salvation!: Have You Said Your Prayers Today? (1987)
Despite a prior comment about not being able to pull screens direct from VHS, the Internet has proved that theory wrong again. After the purchase of this film (eBay circa 2011 at $5), the discovery of the full length film online seemed more realistic for the 13-hour work days life has been presenting. So, with laptop in hand the journey with "Punks on Film" began. Like any good family sitting down to watch the television, a young Viggo Mortensen (demonstrating his overacting chops pre-Hollywood) gathers with friend Lenore Finley (possible misunderstood love interest) and insanely religious wife Rhonda Stample (played by actual wife and singer Exene Cervenka) as they watch a religious broadcast by a very tone Stephen McHattie. They argue, they fight, they discuss - like the good reverend - on what makes this world tick. And like the bomb, a plan is vaguely formed, and off the two go to do wrong in an unjust world. 
The ultimate goal is to prove something to somebody and put a end to the televangical ways of McHattie, or is it. Through difficult scenes that felt like they were pasted together by pre-schoolers, this "punk" film nearly disintergrates in your hand. In one instance, there are two very strong actors fighting against each other. Viggo, playing the greasy Jerome Stample, yells and curses at everything. Armed with a bottle in his hand and an anarchist mentality, nothing will stop him from completing his goal. On the other side, we have McHattie, eager to spread the good word even if it means getting his hands dirty in the process. He is tossed and turned, and follows the venue of Mortensen, yell at everything - show no true emotion, and slowly navigate through this mediocre script. 
SALVATION! Does have hope to it. Despite the feel and l0w-budget nature of this film, it tries to speak to both a young and religious audience. It tries to show the corrupt nature of the business of Jesus, and shows that those who are saved can fall and those who are not saved may never be saved. There is a heart in this mix, and throughout the viewing there is this feeling of independence and dedication. Director Beth B. has a voice in this VHS release, it feels muted at times, but it is there. She over lights some scenes, doesn't care about lighting in the next, and pushes our characters from one side to the next without giving our audience any rhyme or reason. This is a roughly compiled film, but - as mentioned before - there is heart. This is a punk film. There is no doubt about the quality of the cannon, but what could have been this extremely cult-ish film, eventually misfires into being lost to VHS forever.
Look at some of these scenes. Although Davalos takes a secondary role as Lenore, she portrays the crux of the story. It is her temptation that nearly brings the Reverend down and pushes Mortensen to the bring of hysteria. But like any good 80s low-budget features, she plays this great tormented character early, but slowly is forgotten about as the film progresses. There is one point where one finds themselves asking, "Where did Lenore go from earlier in this film?" There is such a focus on her and Mortensen, that to lose that push demonstrates the changing tide of this film. In fact, you could almost pinpoint when this film moves in a new direction. When Mortensen puts on one of McHattie's jackets, SALVATION! moves from fighter to conspirator. 
Weirdly. Exene Cervenka is randomly in this movie. She plays Viggo's wife who would rather be with McHattie then with her husband. In fact, up until nearly the end, there is this feeling that she doesn't even have a role in this hodgepodge flick, but then, like an angel in the night, she arrives. Ready to save the day and protect her television savior, she slowly becomes the cash cow that he has been waiting for. Through a choppy reality ending we see what really happens when God arrives in the form of money, sex, and power.
Is this a good movie? Not particularly. I could see Beth B.'s vision, but it didn't translate well to the screen. There were too many moments that needed to be crammed into the 80 minute time slot. Could it have been the horrid editing or Beth B. trying too hard to say too much at once. I consider it the latter. Her actors were mediocre, the story seems strong, but could have found better footing, and the scenes felt cheap. This is an independent release, there is no question there, but what should have been a strong jab toward religion and television priest turned into a jumbled mess that has been seen time and time again. Originality disappeared to overacting and shoddy direction. SALVATION! is a mess of a film, but despite the music element to it, it did have heart. It did try hard to produce something that would be controversial coupled with conversation starter, but time was not on the side of this film. 1980s film making hurt the longevity of this film, and sadly Beth B. has not quite found her feature footing ever again.
Found in this really cool book (shameless plug here) called "Destroy all Movies: Punks on Film", I am excited by the 3 VHS line-up that I have coming up. The next two are quintessentially 80s films that will reopen my eyes to the bad cinema but great originality that the 80s provided. Sadly, I cannot stand behind SALVATION! despite the heart, and it is going to get a black mark with yellow highlight. Not to be watched again. Sorry Viggo fans, this wasn't his stepping stone to stardom.
The ultimate goal is to prove something to somebody and put a end to the televangical ways of McHattie, or is it. Through difficult scenes that felt like they were pasted together by pre-schoolers, this "punk" film nearly disintergrates in your hand. In one instance, there are two very strong actors fighting against each other. Viggo, playing the greasy Jerome Stample, yells and curses at everything. Armed with a bottle in his hand and an anarchist mentality, nothing will stop him from completing his goal. On the other side, we have McHattie, eager to spread the good word even if it means getting his hands dirty in the process. He is tossed and turned, and follows the venue of Mortensen, yell at everything - show no true emotion, and slowly navigate through this mediocre script. 
SALVATION! Does have hope to it. Despite the feel and l0w-budget nature of this film, it tries to speak to both a young and religious audience. It tries to show the corrupt nature of the business of Jesus, and shows that those who are saved can fall and those who are not saved may never be saved. There is a heart in this mix, and throughout the viewing there is this feeling of independence and dedication. Director Beth B. has a voice in this VHS release, it feels muted at times, but it is there. She over lights some scenes, doesn't care about lighting in the next, and pushes our characters from one side to the next without giving our audience any rhyme or reason. This is a roughly compiled film, but - as mentioned before - there is heart. This is a punk film. There is no doubt about the quality of the cannon, but what could have been this extremely cult-ish film, eventually misfires into being lost to VHS forever.
Look at some of these scenes. Although Davalos takes a secondary role as Lenore, she portrays the crux of the story. It is her temptation that nearly brings the Reverend down and pushes Mortensen to the bring of hysteria. But like any good 80s low-budget features, she plays this great tormented character early, but slowly is forgotten about as the film progresses. There is one point where one finds themselves asking, "Where did Lenore go from earlier in this film?" There is such a focus on her and Mortensen, that to lose that push demonstrates the changing tide of this film. In fact, you could almost pinpoint when this film moves in a new direction. When Mortensen puts on one of McHattie's jackets, SALVATION! moves from fighter to conspirator. 
Weirdly. Exene Cervenka is randomly in this movie. She plays Viggo's wife who would rather be with McHattie then with her husband. In fact, up until nearly the end, there is this feeling that she doesn't even have a role in this hodgepodge flick, but then, like an angel in the night, she arrives. Ready to save the day and protect her television savior, she slowly becomes the cash cow that he has been waiting for. Through a choppy reality ending we see what really happens when God arrives in the form of money, sex, and power. 
Is this a good movie? Not particularly. I could see Beth B.'s vision, but it didn't translate well to the screen. There were too many moments that needed to be crammed into the 80 minute time slot. Could it have been the horrid editing or Beth B. trying too hard to say too much at once. I consider it the latter. Her actors were mediocre, the story seems strong, but could have found better footing, and the scenes felt cheap. This is an independent release, there is no question there, but what should have been a strong jab toward religion and television priest turned into a jumbled mess that has been seen time and time again. Originality disappeared to overacting and shoddy direction. SALVATION! is a mess of a film, but despite the music element to it, it did have heart. It did try hard to produce something that would be controversial coupled with conversation starter, but time was not on the side of this film. 1980s film making hurt the longevity of this film, and sadly Beth B. has not quite found her feature footing ever again.
Found in this really cool book (shameless plug here) called "Destroy all Movies: Punks on Film", I am excited by the 3 VHS line-up that I have coming up. The next two are quintessentially 80s films that will reopen my eyes to the bad cinema but great originality that the 80s provided. Sadly, I cannot stand behind SALVATION! despite the heart, and it is going to get a black mark with yellow highlight. Not to be watched again. Sorry Viggo fans, this wasn't his stepping stone to stardom. 
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