Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. Thankfully, this has audio description.

Netflix was in the Oscar race this year with some predictable contenders. They were expected to get Oscar shortlists for The Perfect Neighbor and cover Up, but could they get a third? Sure, and this is that. Seemingly rising to the top in a very crowded Oscar race is a film about how Christian Nationalism nearly destroyed a country. the rise of false prophets using bastardized interpretations of the Bible, to convince people to believe in them, and then after currying favor with the populous, using that to influence politics.

Oh, you thought I meant here? No. The Evangelical Christian movement tried to take over Brazil. Proving how fragile democracy can become, one documentarian follows how these zealots backed the disgraced Jair Belsanaro, who followed this really familiar strategy of complaining about the election being unfair and rigged before it even occurs. I didn’t know Brazil had their own little January 6th. Of course, the narcissistic leader fled the country, to America, after losing. Then Brazil had to do more work to strengthen its democracy and prevent something like this from happening again.

Director Petra Costa has so much great footage here, showing off these crazy Evangelical rallies, where they preach hate, and get their audience to chant that they should decapitate their enemies. You know, I ahve a problem with these types of things. It’s the whole “very fine people on both sides” argument. People get involved in something, sucked into a movement, and claim they aren’t one of the bad actors, but don’t understand tht by sharing the space, and participating, you actually are. If you attend an event intended to be a Christian gathering, and the people around you think Jesus wants them to decapitate their enemies, you stumbled into crazy town. Population: You.

Apocalypse In The Tropics is an excellent documentary, and a cautionary warning if there ever was one. It isn’t the first of its kind. Last year, the documentary Bad Faith looked at how religion has been manipulated here in the states. The scary thing, is these profitable evangelical nutjobs are exerting their absurdity globally now. If your pastor has a private jet, it isn’t a great sign that he should be the guy who defines your life.

Apocalypse In The tropics is a warning, that democracy is fragile, and liars often approach like wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Fresh: 8.6/10