Salvation Boulevard (2011)

An ex-Deadhead (Greg Kinnear), as in The Grateful Dead, becomes a born again Christian and marries a woman (Jennifer Connelly) with a young daughter (Isabelle Fuhrman). Together, they become part of a Christian community lead by a charismatic evangelist (Pierce Brosnan). But when he witnesses the evangelist shoot a renowned atheist (Ed Harris), his whole world turns upside down. Religious satires are often difficult to pull off because religion is such an easy target that religious fanaticism is almost a parody of itself anyway. Based on the novel by Larry Beinhart, the director George Ratliff (probably best known for the demon child horror flick JOSHUA) can't seem to blend the satirical elements with the darker thriller aspects of the narrative. The two facets fight each other all the way until the film's third act crumbles completely. It doesn't help that Kinnear's character is or appears to be dim witted. If it's the wrong thing to do, he does it. Not without interest but it's a pity that it's bungled because the premise is so provocative. With Marisa Tomei as an ex-Deadhead groupie now working as a school security guard and Ciaran Hinds.