Preacherman (1971) User Reviews

Regional religious comedy

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 5 August 2019]

There's nothing I hate more than seeing the Troma logo displayed before a movie they only have the rights to. It's often enough to make me shut a film off, which I did with this one before heading back one more time to try and make it through.

Preacherman was shot entirely on location in Monroe, North Carolina and was produced by a Charlotte, NC production company, Preacherman Corp. Eleven of the seventeen actors in this movie were locals from the Carolinas and most of the crew was from there, too. Outside of star, writer, producer and director Amos Juxley (actually Brooklyn-born Albery T. Viola) and Iilene Kristen, who played Mary Lou and would go on to be on Ryan's Hope and One Life to Live, not many of them ever acted again.

The Preacherman Amos Huxley loves to get money and make love to young ladies, which runs him afoul of the law in White Oak County. Soon, Amos has escaped yet another series of cops and begins living with the Crabtree family, who are farmers and therefore must have a farmer's daughter, Mary Lou. He somehow convinces everyone that he's going to return her virtue and also gets her to believe that the angel Leroy is coming to make her clean again.

The cops are in on the Crabtree's main crop, which is moonshine, but the Preacherman convinces them to start a new church funded by that demon alcohol. Hijinks, as they say, ensue.

Bill Simpson, who played Sheriff Zero Bull also played Zero in Moonshine Mountain. He also reprised that role in the sequel. Yes, somehow there was a second movie in this series, entitled Preacherman Meets Widderwoman, which never received a national distribution and only played regionally in the South.

a suprising drive-in classic

[silentgpaleo · 26 April 2000]

I don't know where these actors and crew come from, but I recently saw PREACHERMAN, and I found it amusing. Not hilarious or anything, but it tickled me the way that a good drive-in movie should. The film doesn't take itself seriously, and the actors play it to the hilt, especially that Huxley guy as the Preacher, and the Ilena girl as the farmer's daughter. It has its sleazy moments, and redneck stereotypes unbound, but since the film doesn't take these subjects seriously, how can we? I recommend this with a six pack of beer and an open mind.

By the way, I saw the film on PARAGON video, before Troma took and repackaged it. How does Troma get ahold of such a good film?

Solid 70's romp.

[emailblows · 7/10 · 14 December 2021]

This one is a lot of fun for me, it was made 20 years before my birth, but I still found it to be worth the time spent watching it- though I did watch it with the expectation of it being a sex comedy. I watched on Amazon prime which labeled it as PG-13, which may be true overseas, but with Mary Lou's, franly, insane figure as thoroughly on display as it is, that rating seems a bit low. If this movie were made in 2021 it would undoubtedly be a 2 star film, but the entire cast was shockingly capable.

Also "Leroy..... Leroy..... Leroy lol

I would have rated this 8 stars if it wasn't for the consistently present statuatroy rape concept, to be clear, this movie is not PC by modern times and takes light of things that would not at all fly today. Fortunately, aside from one line of dialogue the underaged aspect of the characters is implied, and I could just refuse to accept that implication, particularly with how adult Mary Lou looks.

Quite good considering it's out of print

[spencewenn · 8/10 · 23 January 2007]

This is a rare one. So rare that as far as I've researched, Troma doesn't even package it anymore. It's a shame too. This movie was actually OK in my opinion.

The story isn't too original, but the way in which it was told is clever. The acting seems to come natural for some characters although the movie is loaded with stereotypes. The humor isn't the funniest I've ever seen, but it has its moments ("She has an unnatural hankerin for menfolk!"). The ending has a good twist to it as well. The title song just fits perfectly. For a rare Troma obscurity, this is a masterpiece.

It's no surprise there was a sequel, eh? I give this a 6. It's not the best I've ever seen, but it's certainly not trying to go for something it's not.

Rent this.

The best of both worlds

[pro99 · 5 July 1999]

This movie has it all,from a fake preacher who wouldn't stop preaching to a not so bright farmer's daughter(nicely played by voluptuous Ilene Kristen) not to mention a weirdo who loves to hang around the chicken barn.The continuous background singing gives a nice touch to the story. Overall not so bad movie especially if you are curious about the Angel LeRoy who visits our Mary Lou to save her soul or is he?

Spectacular Masterpiece

[doyoulikeschlong · 10/10 · 21 December 2017]

The preacherman is a genius. He has a way with women that is undeniably perfect. The dialog is on the level of Lum and Abner, yet very Shakespearean in sound. There are also some nice breasts in this film, that help with the sensual scenes in the film. Albert T. Viola was a comedy master, he made too few films, should have made more.

Great movie but missing something

[thav-1 · 8/10 · 12 December 2005]

I recently found a 20 year old video if this film and love it. On the back of the tape they rate it as R. After seeing it, I would rate it PG and probably could be shown on TV as is even in 1971 when made. Watching it carefully, it looks like it may be missing some scenes. Could it originally have had nudity and/or language? It being a real super low budget film and probably on 16mm, it simply could have a poor job of editing. I would like to see it complete if my copy isn't. Either way, it's a great redneck film that makes Dukes of Hazzard look like a city film! The music is great and really belongs here. It being a redneck film, a 16mm print w/ some wear, good bad acting, low budget and the right music makes it a great combination.

Sometimes a film being low budget, makes it 1000 times better than if it was a bid budget. If this was a $100 million film w/ Julia Roberts or someone, it would stink. The bunch of unknowns, some possibly actual country bumpkins could only play it out in this film.

A prime piece of 70's drive-in hicksploitation trash

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 13 March 2019]

Wily and charismatic con man preacher Amos T. Huxley (smoothly played by Albert T. Viola, who also directed and co-wrote the bold script) runs a number on his congregation by pocketing all their donations for himself, sets up a successful moonshine operation, and even makes moves on enticing blonde tramp Mary Lou (essayed with sass and spunk by the yummy Ilene Kristen).

Viola keeps the enjoyably racy story racing along at a brisk pace, offers a tasty evocation of the downhome country setting complete with broad, but affectionately drawn hick caricatures, maintains a delightfully cheeky tone throughout, and sprinkles in a satisfying smattering of delicious bare female flesh. Moreover, Viola has a field day with his juicy lead role; Huxley's fiery sermon on lust and temptation in particular is a hysterical gem. The supporting cast are likewise quite lively and entertaining: Adam Hesse as no-count troublemaker Clyde, Esty F. Davis Jr. as Mary Lou's peppery poppa Judd, Bill Sampson as the hard-nosed Sheriff Zero Bull, and Garland Atkins as the eager, but inept Deputy Leon. The luscious Colleen McGee has a memorably sexy bit as the delectable Lady in Red. The sprightly score by W. Henry Smith and Roland Pope hits the spirited spot. An absolute hoot and a half.