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.

This documentary is non-biased and non-judgmental look at the occult today. Featuring interviews with the people who started the neo-pagan/Wicca movement like Selena Fox, Z. Budapest and the Ferrows, along with various other pagan-Goddess worshipping or "White Magic" sects from around the world. There is also an extremely interesting segment of the documentary that explores the shrouded history of Satanism and talks to members including he famed Anton LaVey, about Satanism today and its future. Other fascinating segments of the documentary talk about how the occult inspired the art of H.R. Giger and it discusses spirit channeling with Alex Sanders among other things. If this documentary were readily available I would highly recommend The Occult Experience to anyone who is interested in understanding the Occult without having any opinions (be it positive or negative) about the subject matter. It's well done, thoroughly researched and very entertaining. But unfortunately it is no where to be found.

This was a spectacular look at the occult scene in the 80s. There were great shots of individuals going through different practices and rituals. Seeing the obvious revolt against the societal norms that preceded this time frame, along with being able to see how current counter culture is possibly revolting against the norms that came about through the generation being documented, is truly enlightening. Would be awesome to see a follow up of what happened to all the people in the documentary.

Overall a great documentary. Wish it could have been a series with a more in depth look at some of the individuals. Highly recommended.

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.

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.