The Occult Experience

This is a fantastic, yet somewhat herd to find documentary on the Occult in America. Running the gamut to include Wicca and Pagan religions (Alex Sanders makes an appearance as do Janet and Stewart Ferrar), Satanism in various forms (Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan, and Michael Acquino, founder of the Temple of Set), and the occult-influenced art of H.R. Gieger (best known for creating the Alien from "Alien"), this film is informative, entertaining, and a must see for anyone with an interest in magic and the occult.

I don't share marchain_ca's views about this film. At no point did they mention that wiccan covens "pour blood on people, deflower virgins, sacrifice animals, or torture prostitutes" nor did every scene have "torture, nudity, or satanism" in it. This movie interviewed many key people in the witchcraft community and they presented the religion very well. There are many different sects of witchcraft, some of which DO practice in the nude because naturally, that's how you came into this world and witchcraft is a nature based religion. This movie was about exploring the occult, not just witchcraft. Although, it did seem to concentrate on Wicca and Satanism, I don't believe it was because the person who created it was a devout Catholic. If that were true, I don't think they could've secured the interviews that they did nor do I think they would've included the exorcism scene. However, I think the Anton Lavey interview may have been taken from another documentary about Satanism, but I'm not sure. I do agree that the film was shot in a somewhat dark and creepy fashion and might be better off if it was a bit "lighter". I think the director probably made this film as a documentary for TV and therefore needed some sort of theatrical element to keep the general populace interested. The movie is kinda creepy. I study all different types of religions and do not adhere to one path because I think they all have good ideas. Because of this, I also know that many people have many different misconceptions about the religions presented in this documentary. I think this movie does a good job of clearing up some of those misconceptions up and would recommend it to anyone who's interested in seeing these religions from a different point of view. I actually found this movie used on VHS and try to show it to everyone I can who I know (hope) won't be freaked out by it. I do think they could've included more religions in this film, but maybe there's another one out there that could do that.

Wonderful historic document on early 1980s Wicca and neo paganism. A little dated and the narrator has a voice more appropriate for a horror movie than a documentary. Highly recommended.

In a film where the point is to document the occult, it would be nice for them to show it in a natural light, and not make it look so dark and negative. I'm sorry I tried to keep an open mind, but as a witch I'm p**sed that every seen either had torture, nudity, or Satanism in it. My coven (not a cult a coven) doesn't pour blood on people, deflower virgins, sacrifice animals, or torture prostitutes. This documentary even scared me, so how can anyone claim that with an open mind these religions, as seen in the film, need not be feared. No offense but was this film produced by the Catholic church? They shot every scene in the dark of night it seems, and except for the hibernation story at the end it was all about torture, sacrifice and fear. This film needs to be re-shot in modern times by a non-by-est party. Once again, i'm p**sed.

This is a good video for those that may or may not be somewhat interested in the occult. It touches up on several occultic religious such as Wiccan and Satanism and dismisses religious bias that the Christian church has thrown at the practice of the occult for so many centuries. I recognized a few of those that were interviewed such as Micheal Aquino and Anton Levay as guests put on such talk shows like Geraldo Ravera and Sally Jassy Raphael and remembered all the boo's that they received even before they began to explain themselves and their religion. If you watch this documentary with an open mind and remove the blinders that most of society has dished out, you may find that most occult religions are just.....misunderstood.