What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRed State
Film · 2011
If you loved Red State, start with Wild Wild Country (2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Red State across media.
If Red State gripped you, it is because you are fascinated by the terrifying intersection of isolation, religious extremism, and the breakdown of societal norms.
Books on the same thread
Fear Street
R. L. Stine · Book · 1989
Explores: Teen Angst, Small Town Secrets, Supernatural Curse.
Fans of Red State who enjoy the tension of teens lured into a lethal trap will appreciate how this story utilizes small-town secrets to escalate a deadly situation.
The Stand
Stephen King · Book · 1980
Shares a thread with Red State: Survival.
Like the desperate fight for survival in Red State, this narrative explores the brutal collision between good and evil when normal life is replaced by a hostile landscape.
The Institute
Stephen King · Book · 2019
Explores: Child abduction, Government conspiracy, Psychic abilities.
The terrifying institutional abuse and child abduction featured here mirror the helplessness of the victims in Red State as they confront a cold, calculated, and fanatical enemy.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Jon Krakauer · Book
Shares a thread with Red State: Religious extremism.
If the religious fanaticism in Red State left you wanting more, this true crime examination of fundamentalist violence provides a chilling, real-world look at the same destructive impulses.
Series on the same thread
Wild Wild Country
Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Red State: Religious Extremism.
Just as Red State depicts the horrors of a radicalized cult, this documentary captures the genuine national scandal that unfolds when religious extremism takes root in an isolated community.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Dustin Lance Black · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Red State: Religious Extremism.
This series explores the same dangerous spiral into religious fundamentalism found in Red State, focusing on how a family's extreme beliefs lead to violent, life-altering consequences for others.
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Red State: Religious Extremism, Survival.
The oppressive religious extremism that drives the terror in Red State is taken to a systemic level here, illustrating the terrifying outcome of a society ruled by fanatical ideology.
Midnight Mass
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2021
Explores: Religious Fanaticism, Loss of Faith, Miracles and Deception.
This show captures the same dread found in Red State by centering on a small, isolated town being consumed by a charismatic leader's dangerous and fanatical religious agenda.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
Those drawn to the dark, insular atmosphere of Red State will recognize the unsettling social decay and deep-seated secrets that define the isolated Alabama town featured in this podcast.
The Glenn Beck Program
Podcast
Explores: american culture, american politics, current events.
If you are interested in the cultural and political tensions that form the backdrop of Red State, this program offers a direct perspective on the current American ideological climate.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Red State based on a true story?
Red State is a 2011 film set in Middle America. While it features a group of teens encountering a group of Christian fundamentalists with a sinister agenda, the movie is a fictional work and not based on actual historical events or a true story.
What is the premise of Red State?
The plot of Red State follows a group of teenagers who receive an online invitation for sex. Upon arriving at the location, they discover that the Christian fundamentalists who invited them have a much more sinister agenda than the teens initially anticipated.
When was Red State released?
Red State was released in 2011. The film focuses on a group of teens in Middle America who are lured into a dangerous trap by Christian fundamentalists. It is a standalone film and not part of a larger series or franchise.
Does Red State involve a group of teens?
Yes, the plot of Red State centers on a group of teens who travel to a location in Middle America after receiving an online invitation. They soon realize that the Christian fundamentalists they encounter have a sinister agenda, placing the group of teens in grave danger.