PARIAH (GANG LAND)
An anti-racist drama overwhelmed by graphic content and senseless violence.
Should You Watch It?
PARIAH raises serious issues about racist skinhead violence, gang rape, revenge, and intolerance. It clearly says revenge is not the answer. But the film buries that point beneath non-stop foul language, graphic sex, rampant senseless violence, and disturbing depictions of sinful behavior.
The filmmaking also weakens its message. Too many similar-looking characters make the story difficult to follow, and the film offers little insight into Steve and Sam’s relationship before the graphic rape scene. Its moderately humanist worldview, minor socialist connotations, and rejection of the God of the Bible further dilute its anti-racist message.
The practical answer is simple: skip this film.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn Los Angeles, a gang of fascist skinheads rapes Sam, the black girlfriend of a white liberal named Steve. After Sam dies by suicide, Steve attempts to join the gang so he can take revenge from within.
To gain acceptance, Steve becomes involved in the gang’s violence as conflicts grow between the skinheads, black racists, and homosexuals. He must eventually decide whether to carry out his revenge or resist the satanic world surrounding him.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means PARIAH has a potentially serious subject but delivers it in an unfocused and less-than-involving way. Too many characters and numerous male skinheads who look and dress alike make it difficult to focus on the story and its people.
Many names are introduced early, while some major characters are not named right away. The film also gives little insight into Steve and Sam’s relationship before the graphic gang rape scene and does not explain why they make no effort to contact legal authorities. The result is a movie overwhelmed by foul language, senseless violence, and graphic sex scenes.
The Worldview
PARIAH presents a moderately humanist worldview with minor socialist connotations. Although it raises important questions about racism and intolerance, this worldview dilutes its anti-racist message. Steve rejects the God of his Bible-toting sister, and the film offers no broad solution to the social problems it presents beyond rejecting revenge and calling for peaceful integration.
The review argues that these humanist and socialist answers are inadequate without a strong local church enforcing biblical standards of morality. It also criticizes government programs that try to force integration against people’s will. The film’s portrayal of both white and black gang members as capable of rape suggests that gang rape is a symptom of a broader, sex-crazed, theophobic culture.
The movie’s apparent pleasure in fully depicting racist skinheads’ worst behavior is itself a serious artistic and moral problem. Showing sinful acts in graphic detail can become an immoral and self-contradictory method, even when the stated purpose is condemnation.
The film’s rejection of revenge aligns with Scripture’s call to leave justice to God: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God” (Romans 12:19).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Humanist worldview against racism with minor socialist connotations, & an atheist statement by the hero; 506 obscenities, 14 profanities, many racial epithets, & several crude sexual remarks; major amounts of violence, but little gore, including beatings, rapes, shootings, murder, & skinheads enjoy beating up homosexuals but homosexuals fight back in one scene; several scenes of depicted fornication, rape depicted at least three times, one scene of sodomy rape briefly depicted, implied fornication, implied homosexual sodomy, implied homosexual sexual scene, homosexual references, & references to past sexual abuse of women by their fathers; rear male nudity during fornication, brief upper female nudity, & women in underwear; alcohol use & drunkenness; smoking, marijuana & heroin use depicted; and, strong miscellaneous immorality such as characters occasionally spout National Socialist rhetoric about blood purity of the "white race."
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film says revenge is not the answer. What does Scripture ask us to do instead when we are wronged?
Romans 12:19 · 1 Peter 2:23The story raises the question of how communities should respond to racism and intolerance. What responsibilities does Scripture give to God’s people toward one another?
Galatians 6:1–2 · Matthew 18:15–17The film rejects the God of the Bible through Steve’s response to his sister. Why does Scripture say human justice and human plans cannot replace trust in God?
Proverbs 3:5–7 · Psalm 146:3–5The review criticizes graphic depictions of sinful behavior. When can showing evil become harmful rather than morally instructive?
Philippians 4:8 · Ephesians 5:11–12The Final Word
PARIAH raises real concerns about racism and revenge, but its graphic sex, rape, violence, drug use, and relentless profanity overwhelm its message. Its confused storytelling and humanist worldview add to the problem. For your family and your conscience, SKIP IT. Consider these instead.
