Movie Magick: The Occult in Film

Description

"Magick" as defined by Aleister Crowley is "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will." This book explores expressions of movie magick in classic occult films like Hammer's adaptation of Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out and modern occult revival movies. These films are inspired by the aesthetics of fin de siecle decadence, the symbolist writings of Villiers de l'Isle Adam, Wagnerian music drama, the Faust legend, the pseudo-science of theosophy, 1960s occult psychedelia, occult conspiracy theories and obscure aspects of animation. Cover Table of Contents Introduction One. Decadence Two. Symbolist Horrors Three. Occult Fantasy Before the Movies Four. Silent Magick Five. Ritual Six. Willpower Seven. Return of the Magi Eight. Theological Horror Nine. Theosophy Ten. Psychedelia Eleven. Conspiracy Twelve. Faust Thirteen. Animagick Chapter Notes Bibliography Index