Love God (1997 film)

Love God is a 1997 American surreal comedy-drama film directed by Frank Grow. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is known for its experimental visual style and unconventional narrative. The film stars a schizophrenic protagonist with a compulsive reading disorder, navigating life after his release from a mental institution, only to be haunted by Hindu gods.^[1]

Love God
Directed by	Frank Grow
Written by	Frank Grow
Produced by	Frank Grow
Starring	Will Keenan Shannon Burkett Kymberli Ghee Kerri Kenney Michael Laurence Dale Soules Yukio Yamamoto Vin Knight Christine Holt
Cinematography	Terry Stacey
Edited by	Davey Frankel
Release date	1997 (1997)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

The story follows the protagonist's attempts to reintegrate into society after a stint in a mental institution. However, his efforts are complicated by hallucinations of Hindu deities and the onset of a bizarre series of events involving mutated worms and their effect on human biology.

Cast

• Will Keenan as Larue
• Shannon Burkett as Helen
• Kymberli Ghee as Kathleen / Kali
• Kerri Kenney as Darla
• Michael Laurence as Victor
• Dale Soules as Connie
• Yukio Yamamoto as Dr. Noguchi
• Vin Knight as Christian
• Christine Holt as Red Haired Hooker

Production

Frank Grow wrote and directed Love God, which utilized a blend of live-action and special effects to achieve its distinctive surreal aesthetic.^[2] The film was independently produced and gained attention for its experimental approach.^[3]

Release and reception

Festivals

Love God was selected to screen at the following film festivals:

• 1997 Sundance Film Festival
• 1997 Toronto International Film Festival
• 1997 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
• 1997 Helsinki International Film Festival
• 1997 International Film Festival Rotterdam

Critical response

Critical response to Love God was mixed. Fred Camper of The Chicago Reader described the film as a "wildly inventive" piece of work, while Anita Gates of The New York Times noted its eccentric humor and unusual use of special effects.^[3][2] Godfrey Cheshire of Variety acknowledged its visual ambition, although the narrative received criticism for its abstract nature.^[4] Steven Puchalski of Shock Cinema highlighted the film's niche appeal.^[5]

While not a commercial success, Love God has gained a cult following for its unique storytelling and visual style.^[6] It remains a notable entry in the canon of 1990s independent cinema and recognized as an early live-action film shot entirely on digital and transferred to film.^[1][7][8]