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In the darkly twisted thriller Red State, three naive teenagers embark on a reckless escapade after meeting an alluring stranger online, only to be ensnared by Abin Cooper, a zealot preacher consumed by hate. As the boys' desperation grows, they must fight for survival against Cooper's wrathful intentions and confront the deadly consequences of their own reckless desires.

In the darkly twisted thriller Red State, three naive teenagers embark on a reckless escapade after meeting an alluring stranger online, only to be ensnared by Abin Cooper, a zealot preacher consumed by hate. As the boys' desperation grows, they must fight for survival against Cooper's wrathful intentions and confront the deadly consequences of their own reckless desires.

Does Red State have end credit scenes?

No!

Red State does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Red State

Explore the complete cast of Red State, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


No actors found

Ratings and Reviews for Red State

See how Red State is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Red State stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

50

Metascore

6.3

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

6.1 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

61

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Red State Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Red State with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Red State Quiz: Test your knowledge about the chilling events and characters in the 2011 film 'Red State'.

Who is the leader of the Five Points Church?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Red State

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Read the complete plot summary of Red State, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Set against the backdrop of a nameless small town in the southwestern United States, Travis (Michael Angarano) is a high school student who witnesses the disturbing protest by the Five Points Church, a thinly veiled parody of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church. Led by the fervent Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), a figure reminiscent of David Koresh, the church protests the funeral of a murdered gay teenager—the third hate crime victim in just a month. In Travis’s first class, his teacher discusses the town’s shameful reputation due to Cooper’s hateful beliefs and actions.

Later, Jared (Kyle Gallner), a friend of Travis, shares that he received an invite from a woman he met online for a group sex encounter involving himself, Travis, and Billy Ray (Nicholas Braun). They borrow Travis’s parents’ car and venture into the countryside to meet her. However, their adventure takes a dark turn when they inadvertently collide with Sheriff Wynan (Stephen Root), who is secretly engaged in a homosexual tryst in his vehicle. Terrified, the boys flee the scene.

Upon arriving at the woman’s trailer, Sarah Cooper (Melissa Leo]), they are coaxed into drinking and soon fall unconscious due to drugged beer. Upon awakening, Jared finds himself imprisoned in a covered cage within the Five Points sanctuary, where Abin Cooper launches into a fervent, hate-filled sermon about the evils of the world. In a gruesome display of violence, Cooper binds another captured homosexual to a cross and executes him in front of his zealous followers, exposing the church as the sinister force behind a series of hate crimes.

As the tension escalates, Cooper attempts to execute Jared, but is interrupted by the arrival of Deputy Pete (Matt L. Jones). Though Cooper feigns innocence about the hit-and-run incident, Pete quickly realizes otherwise upon spotting the damaged car on church grounds. Meanwhile, Travis and Billy Ray manage to escape their binds, but in a confusing and chaotic sequence, Billy Ray is caught in a deadly clash with Caleb (Ralph Garman), one of Cooper’s henchmen, while Deputy Pete falls victim to Mordechai (James Parks).

In the face of escalating conflict, Sheriff Wynan threatens the ATF with exposure of his own secrets, only to have a full-scale raid initiated by Agent Joseph Keenan (John Goodman). The standoff becomes increasingly violent, and while the Cooper family celebrates the supposed arrival of the rapture amidst the chaos, a teenage cult member named Cheyenne (Kerry Bishé) desperately tries to escape, leading to a tragic series of events that culminate in the brutal shooting of both her and Jared.

As the absurdity of their situation is revealed—where trumpets blaring in the distance are nothing more than a prank by local marijuana farmers—the ATF takes custody of Abin Cooper and his followers. In the aftermath, Agent Keenan, disobeying orders, finds himself unexpectedly promoted, despite the grim fate that awaits Cooper in prison—a fate filled with haunting irony as he learns that his beliefs might lead to him being subjected to the very wrath he preached against.

In the film’s closing moments, Abin Cooper is depicted in solitary confinement, his mental state unraveling as he paces and mutters to himself—a stark reminder of the insanity that can arise when ideology turns to fanaticism.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Red State

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Red State. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

Cars Featured in Red State

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Explore all cars featured in Red State, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Buick

1969

LeSabre

Caterpillar

TH 103

Chevrolet

1990

C-1500

Chevrolet

2000

Tahoe

Ford

1998

Contour

Ford

2003

Crown Victoria

Ford

2003

Crown Victoria

Ford

1971

F-Series

Ford

1996

Taurus

Honda

2004

Civic Coupé

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


homophobiagay slurreligious fundamentalisthomophobic slurreligious zealotfellatioblow job in a cardrugged drinkhomosexualitychristianitychristian fanaticatf agentsideswiping a cartied to a crosscloseted homosexualhate crimecultcult leadersaran wrapcar accidentkidnappingshootouttorturepreacherchristianreligious fundamentalismtwo word titlereference to craigslistcolor in titlebloodbrutalitycovered in bloodcrueltydangerdead bodydeathgungun violencegunfighthatredhostagemercilessnessmoral corruptionperversionpervertprofanitypsychopathsexual perversionshootingviciousness

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