Raised by his grandmother to be a Pentecostal minister, Ron Athey was speaking in tongues by the age of 10, a heroin addict by 17, and a performance artist by 23. An HIV-positive gay man, Athey practices sadomasochistic ritual as a personal religion and a means of transcendence. HALLELUJAH! presents Athey's life and work, spending time with him on and off the stage in Mexico City, Zagreb, and Los Angeles. Using an intimate, hand-held Hi-8 camera style, HALLELUJAH! combines interviews and at-home verité footage with scenes from Athey's trilogy of performances: Martyrs and Saints, Four Scenes in a Harsh Life, and Deliverance.