Holy Ghost People (1967 film)

Holy Ghost People is a 1967 documentary film directed by Peter Adair. The film explores the practices and beliefs of an Appalachian Pentecostal church, focusing on elements such as snake handling, faith healing, and speaking in tongues. Shot in Scrabble Creek, West Virginia, the documentary offers a raw and intimate portrayal of the community and its religious fervor. It avoids explicit judgment, instead aiming to present an observational record of their faith and rituals. The film is considered an important, though sometimes controversial, ethnographic work that provides insight into a specific subculture within American religious life. It's noted for its cinéma vérité style, minimizing directorial intervention and allowing the subjects to speak for themselves.