Kevin Smith is All Grown Up!

For those of you not familiar with his work, Kevin Smith has directed such celluloid treasures as "Clerks" (a project made after leaving film school early, receiving rave reviews at Cannes) and "Chasing Amy" (arguably my favorite, centered around two independent comic book creators acted by Ben Affleck and Jason Lee) as well as 4 more in the "View Askewuniverse" (a Post-"Good Will Hunting" Ben Affleck and Matt Damon" play two fallen Angels in  "Dogma", another great one)
But most recently (as Angi and I viewed last night) was his latest project "Red State"
Based on the Baptist Zealot Fred Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church, it is a riveting, although graphically disturbing representation of the dangers of rampant adherence to fundamental religious theologies, and the post 911 governmental policies regarding them.
Caution, several SPOILER ALERTS!
Self distributed, this film purportedly marks the beginning of the end of Kevin Smiths film directing career.  Sighting many reasons, in short he seems pretty fed up with the film industry machine, and  the fact that marketing a film should not cost four times as much as the film itself, a situation he has described as "both decadent and deadening"
released on "Video on demand" we picked it up on Zune.  On Angi's part, she did not like it...at all.
Very much a switch as the film is billed as a horror movie, but quite frankly I cannot see the reason.  I'd have to categorize it as Action/drama/comedy.
The film relates the tale of three high school boys, utilizing the Internet to "get some".  they hook up with a "next town over"  stereotypical middle aged "trailer trash" Southern girl.  That's when things get creepy.
Seems the old preacher has set up his "followers" to use the latest incarnation of "wanton sin and degradation" IE; The Internet, to ensnare "Godless Homosexuals, and Fornicators"  Well, it's a system that seems to have served them well, as they have ensnared and executed 19 of the aforementioned "insects" (just as a side note the words in " " are there words NOT mine!) and you are witness to the 20th.  and the 21st...the 22nd....etc, etc.  After a series of happenstance set forth from the beginning of the film, law enforcement shows up at the compound, and in turn so does the ATF.  That's when things REALLY get intense!  I'd tell you more but why spoil it.  Suffice to say  The actors give exceptional performances, the writing is filled with Kevin's thought provoking diatribes and wisdom.  The direction and editing borrow from many sources.  The intense pace of a "Bourne-ish" style chase scene, fish eye POV, steady cam, Still cam wide shots that lull you into a sense of tense inactivity, occasional cut and paste editing to quickly move through shots!  WOW!  And in the end a completely surprising, out-of-place, in bad taste but otherwise darkly HILARIOUS climax!  In the end clearly a man of deep opinions regarding religion, government intrusion, and a clear commentary of the innocence of "collateral damage" in any conflict, I have a great deal of respect for this film maker considering how much hate mail he received from the religious sect after filming Dogma (and three death threats) to have the courage to not only go there again, but several paces beyond!