The Jolo Serpent Handlers1978

An in-depth portrait of a small snake-handling church in Appalachia, that not only shows two fascinating serpent-handling services, but answers many of the questions about this religion and the people who practice it. Church members speak of why they handle snakes; what gap it fills in their lives; what it's like to grow up in the religion; and the pain of losing a family member from the poisonous snakebite. Varied scenes of: the rattlesnake hunt through the mountains; the washing of the serpents; the annual outdoor homecoming service; a rare documentation of an all-night prayer vigil held for the victim of a rattlesnake bite; and many interviews taken with people inside the relaxed atmosphere of their homes. –K. K.