The Guillotine thing is a bible thumper thing. I don't know where they
came up with it, since it wasn't invented until the 1300's. There used
to be a movie they showed on the local holy roller station where the
evil govmint was making people choose "The mark" (Barcode) or getting
chopped. The acting was insanely bad, and the ending is comical. There's
a little kid who chooses the chopper, and is happy to get it. I thought
it was one of the more comical flicks I've ever seen.
Geez, that sounds similar to a flick that I once saw going back 25 - 30
years ago. I seem to recall a traitor selling out the group in the movie
that I saw. But the guillotine was there.