Believer

Why I took it off the list:

Searching for an ideal documentary to cover for Pride Month, I stumbled across the striking poster for this exploration of the Mormon Church’s harmful policies towards its LGTBQ+ members. And one man’s crusade to change hearts and minds.

The film covers similar ground to Prayers for Bobby (2009), which I revisited at the beginning of June. So thought this was an ideal bookend for a month when it’s not only important to acknowledge the battles the community has won, but those which are still ongoing.

Review of Believer (2018)

This HBO documentary film opens with a bird’s eye-view of Salt Lake City, Utah. And although there are taller buildings, it’s unquestionable that one structure dominates the downtown area: the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We then cut between sweeping shots of the sturdy, pristine Salt Lake Temple and its idyllic surrounding environs, as a heavenly score (provided by none other than legendary composer Hans Zimmer!) soars.

But the transcendent music is gradually drowned out by a succession of voices that strike a discordant chord. First up is a news report that “youth suicide rates in Utah, where a majority of the populace is Mormon, have skyrocketed over the past decade.”

Then come testimonies of survivors, which include: “I grew up gay and Mormon and in Utah. In my morning prayers I would ask that God would do something drastic like cause me to die in a car accident.”

These are followed by statements by Mormon leaders, such as “Simply being attracted to someone of the same gender is not a sin. It is when we act on the inclination or the attraction.”

Lastly, a catty podcaster announces: “The Church finally said there’s nothing wrong with being gay! As long as you don’t do gay stuff.”

A simple yet effective set-up: here’s the (powerful, complex) villain, now we need a hero. And we meet him in the next scene, in a humble booth at a Nevada public radio station: Dan Reynolds.

This rather ordinary name might not ring any bells at first. But by the end of the opening credits you’ll realize you’ve most definitely heard his voice.

Dan is the frontman of Imagine Dragons. The wildly successful rock band whose signature anthem gives this documentary its title.

But he’s not on the radio show to boast about his Grammy win or the 74 million albums sold worldwide. He’s there to say he’s a practicing Mormon but can no longer remain silent on the Church’s attitudes towards its queer followers.

“I don’t feel the need to denounce Mormonism,” he emphasizes. “I do feel the need, as a Mormon, to speak out against things that are hurting people.”

Knowing nothing about the singer’s personal life, I assumed that he was doing this as it affected him directly. In the next scene, he’s shown to have a wife and young children. And my heart sank, thinking he’d been led into a life he later regretted.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s clear that he and his then-wife, fellow singer Aja Volkman, were deeply in love. She converted to Mormonism for him so they could get married, something she says she felt “fine about. Except for the gay rights.”

And so when her lesbian best friends refused to attend their wedding because of the Mormon Church’s stance on Prop 8, it was something of a catalyst for Reynolds. He realized something was wrong, but acknowledged that his voice didn’t have any “reach” at the time.

However, fast-forward nine years and Imagine Dragons has blown up. And countless Mormon youth, many struggling with their sexuality, have reached out to him via email. Realizing he can’t possibly reply to every one, and also that being “passive” is no longer an option, he decides to take public action.

Equal Parts Triumphant Concert Film and Rousing Rallying Cry

It’s at this point in the documentary when another key voice is introduced: Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees. Like Reynolds, he’s a Mormon rock star, but he’s also gay. And when the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage leaks, he openly rebels with an controversial record and music video.

As Reynolds explains: “A lot of Mormons saw that and were offended and angry,” but also “hurt for Tyler. It definitely weighed very heavily on my heart.” And so he reached out with a proposal: a music festival, held in Salt Lake City itself, to promote the unassailable message of love is love.

However, this is not as simple as two Mormon rock stars saying, “It’s OK to be gay,” and then the faithful being convinced. Before the majority of Mormons will feel comfortable enough to step foot on the concert grounds, they’re going to have to secure the blessing of the Prophet, considered God’s mouthpiece on Earth. Which proves to be a considerable challenge.

Cynical viewers of this film could conclude that it’s one big Imagine Dragons publicity stunt. But at this point, it’s not like they need it. Plus there are a slew of other documentaries about the band and their music.

There’s no doubt that Reynolds, as well as Volkman, is sincere, humble, and nothing but well-intentioned. And that by allowing cameras into their private lives and to capture intimate moments (including Volkman pumping breastmilk as Reynolds scrambles to pack for the gig), they’re helping a worthy cause.

Reynolds recognizes the power of his voice, but he’s also the first to acknowledge that it’s not enough. So the film also features interviews with a prominent Mormon psychologist who was excommunicated because of his views, as well as Mormom LGBTQ+ youth and parents who have lost thier children to suicide.

The mission to put on the festival is a propulsive narrative mechanism, and there are plenty of setbacks to suggest that this is far from a surefire thing. One horrific tragedy involving Glenn, which the filmmakers couldn’t possibly have foreseen, underscores why their mission is so urgent.

Even if you don’t care for Imagine Dragons’ music (I don’t particularly: whenever it was – frequently – featured on my guilty pleasure show Riverdale, I got a bit of cringe,) it’s undeniable that the band’s frontman has done a monumentally good deed.

Final score: 9/10

Worth Watching?

Yes, Believer is both a sobering look at injustice and a rousing concert film in its own right.

But the biggest takeaway might be the importance of straight allyship in the fight for gay rights. While activism within the LGTBQ+ community is, of course, essential, it’s clear we need voices from outside the bubble to make further progress.

I’d give it a 10 if not for the slight niggle that it’s guilty of using the titular track (though in different renditions) one too many times – we get it, he’s a believer!

At time of writing, you can watch the documentary in its entirety for free on YouTube.