SPECHTREUM ~ V ~ By Draconis Blackthorne Overall, a nicely made documentary. The only dissappointments are 1, Reverand Manson is not interviewed, & 2, there's no mention of The Doctor anywhere, but there are images included which are shown on flyers. The Doctor's image from "Satan Wants You", & the Church of Satan "recruitment" poster are included. An image of the Doctor is also included in an introductory graphic, apparently spliced together from "Invocation of My Demon Brother", which was a Kenneth Anger production This "rockumentary" showcases the development & evolution of Marilyn Manson from "MM & The Spooky Kids", "Amboogalard", & others, as they are spawned from the Florida music scene. No xoids to speak of, only admirers & good-natured critics. "Missi", MM's ex, speaks at length about some of the occurances behind the scenes, & some history with Jack Off Jill is discussed. Along with her, are a host of others who provide some interesting insights into this iconoclastic figure. "Demystifying the Devil" really demystifies nothing, as all the content is already discussed in Rev. Manson's book "Long Hard Road Out Of Hell" already. Basically, this is that book put to film, for the most part. I was fortunate to find the "Uncensored" version, which, no doubt, is far more revealing, showing uncut & unscrambled home video scenes on Manson's personal life. Plus, the video case displays a Satanic pentagram superimposed upon a rictus-laden Marilyn in concert. Let it be known, that neither Reverend Manson nor Nothing Records cooperated, nor defamed, this production. 7 Faces of Dr. Lao A sleepy little town is awakened by a travelling carnivale. A most exotic manifestation --- the Circus of Dr. Lao, a multi-dimensional & extraordinary man with a collection of oddities, freaks, & enigmas of Nature. The townfolk enter this total environment with sneers & jeers, heckling & critiquing all the while. But in each & every instance, they all learn harsh & draconian lessons, very much like "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory", everyone gets their "just desserts", as it were, in various wonderfully poetic manners. For instance, one of the exhibits is "Medusa" the Gorgon, who can only be viewed by the crowd through a mirror, because, obviously, anyone subject under her gaze would immediately be turned to stone. Well, one obnoxious & insolent old biddy mocks the show, & threatens to "expose" Dr. Lao as a "fraud". In her huff, she moves the mirror aside & is immediately transformed to stone. If it was not for the compassion of a kindly old Wizard, she would have remained so. Alas, she gets better thanshe deserved, & is transformed back to flesh. Thus, her tragedy abated, she is transformed not only back to flesh, but for a renweed love for her husband & very life {read The Neccessity of Catastrophe. Hail Medusa! In another instance, a couple of obstinant cowboys mock Dr. Lao's "Lochness Monster" he keeps in a goldfich bowl. EVEN after Dr. Lao EXPLAINS that, like the blowfish, this creature would expand in size & countenance with air {"No man knows how big he can get"}, he is still mocked. Well, while on a drunken binge, these shit-disturbing cowboys return to the circus to disrupt the circus' harmonious flow. The last straw, by their own stupidity, came when one of then shot that glass bowl, & what do you suppose happened? Exactly what Dr. Lao explained would --- the fish grew to become a sea-monster, a dragon, really, & tossed them about like ragdolls --- Leviathan was awakened. They should have left well enough alone --- good riddance to bad rubbish! Throughout the Circus' stay in this town, a small boy marvels at all the amazing wonders, especially at the Old Wizard's prestidigitations, who receives a warm hug from the boy, which makes for a most touching scene. Upon expressing the desire to join the Circus, Dr. Lao tells the boy, "When you pick up a handful of sand, & see not the sand, but a wonder, then you will be part of The Circus of Dr. Lao. When you wonder at a rainbow, then you will be part of The Circus of Dr. Lao. Just to be alive, that is the greatest Magic of all". A truly valuable lesson is learned by the town when on one accasion, the Circus performers parade --- we see Medusa, the Wizard, a satyr playing his panflute {which absolutely enflames Barbara Eden}, moving those receptive to lust & love, a Prophet, & of course, the "Lochness Monster", then finally, Dr. Lao Himself, who projects an ethical scenario upon an overhanging curtain, reminicient of "the fall of Sodom & Gommorrah" --- the presentation proves to be effectual in exposing the inner decrepidness of the townfolk like a mirror, basically, scaring the hell into them {Dr. Lao acts as the Accuser}. Again, refer to The Neccessity of Catastrophe. Indeed, wherever The Circus of Dr. Lao travels, great & profound lessons are learned. In the end, Dr. Lao receives his well deserved {though unasked for} praise from the townfolk. The he disappears in pretty much a puff of smoke, which curiously swirls up from, then down into, a dimensional vortex towards the ground, into the earth. Dr. Lao would not forget his little friend, so he did leave him a present in the end. The Omen The Devil's childe incarnated here in the form of an adorable little English boy. Born into wealth & prestige, the son of senator destined for the presidency --- it seems that "Satan" planned well {of course}, to place "His" son in prominance, instead of in some dungheap of a manger {who does that remind you of?}. One after another, obstacles {human & otherwise} are removed from the path of the Devil's son's path --- whomever dares get in His way..... This movie draws from JC-mythology from the book of "Revelation" of an apocalyptic anti-christ / tyrant born to dominate the earth. He carries the dreaded "666" birthmark upon his head --- proof positive he is "The One". In one particularly dramatic scene, Damian refuses to be led into an Episcopal church. Instead, his mother takes him to the zoo, where the resident animals panic & lash out in fear & anger. Small wonder --- he is Thanatos made flesh. Born of a jackal, Damian is protected by exarchs of Hell --- a good-natured woman, & a strong & beautiful doberman --- erego, the diabolical connection. Damian.....the name has since been the favorite for infernal children..... Damien Omen 2 The second six in the saga of this classic infernal trinity. Here, in military school, Damian comes to grips with the realization that he is this antichrist character, after being reassured by an official. Damian learns to grasp His power, & even his own brother is annihilated, who threatened to stop Damian's destiny. Again, his parental guardians get the proverbial axe, as 'The Antichrist' continues on his path to world dominion. Damien III: The Final Conflict Damien is all grown up here, & has taken his place as President of 'Thorn Industries', a global conglomerate incorperating everything from product manufacture to food charities, & is firmly allied with the UN {of course}. In the darkest of plans, children are sacrificed, a politician commits suicide {by the auspice of satanical forces}, & the homicidal efforts of a secret xian order to murder Damian Thorn rotinelt prove to be ineffectual & laughable. Thorn has his own "Ritual Chamber", in which the nazarene is crucified, not inverse as you would expect, but turned around so that his naked posterior shows most humiliatingly. Thorn blasphemously rants at the nazarene in a messe noiresque fashion, & shows what proves to be one of the most powerfully sacriligeous scenes in cinematographic history. "Nazarene......you have won NOTHING....." The Addams Family Reunion Masochists attempt to thwart The Addams Family yet again {will they ever learn?}, attempting to disrupt their peace of mind at every turn. The Addams Family reconciles irreconcilables just by being themselves, which routinely proves to be too much for the normals. They fear what they do not understand --- they fear that which is different. The Addams Family is sent an invitation from 'relatives' in denial, who attempt to act like the normals. Why bother? As a matter of fact, some of you may have experiemnted with this as a process of your evolution --- experimenting may have been in order, to ultimately derive that which should have been obvious from the beginning, being, that WE are truly THE OTHER, as is proven again & again, either by social interaction, &/or personal revelation. Anyhow, The Addams Family encounters a host of boring, pretentious, & unimaginative members of the herd, to which they teach valuable & harsh lessons, & enact just retribution when needs be. "The Addams Family Reunion" is not the first Addams film I would recommend, as it would be a shadow of the others, as it seems to be geared more towards children, which would be a welcomed addition to one's Infernal Progeny, but for Me, the series, & the first two films are preferrable. The Undead Circa 1952 / Starring Pamela Duncan & Richard Garland / Directed by Roger Corman A classic horror movie about a hooker's past-life regression. We accompany her unto her doomed past, where she must save herself from the chopping block. The whole film comes off as Shakespeareian overall. She is transformed into a young maiden, travelling deep into her subconcious mind. Two Parapsychologists hypnotize her, & but one in particular decides to go after her, as "The Tibetan Priests" can do. He becomes a knight determined to help her in her quest. Along the way, he meets up with a buxom brunette beauty of a Witch who offers him help in his mission --- he must sell his soul to the Devil on this Sabbath's Night. She proves a loyal minion, as she presents The Prince of Darkness with a decapitated head, who appears in a plume of flame. Morbid harem-dancers herald his arrival, undulating & writhing in a delightful dance of decacent faire. This film really manages to preserve that eeriness throughout. The characters are perfectly cast. A meddling 'white witch' crone attempts to thwart the Lydia The Witch, but to no avail. There is plenty of lycanthropy, & poetry for that matter, uttered by the local cemetary caretaker. In the end, The Devil receives His due, laughing all the while. The Undead is a must for all Satanic Roger Corman fans. No demoralization here. Interesting of note, as I was recording this movie, a 7.0 Earthquake struck at about 3am --- rolling Belial beneath Me. A great movie AND an earthquake all in the same Sabbath's night! It was quite amusing indeed! "Oh Great brothers of the night.....who rideth out upon the hot winds of Hell, who dwelleth within the devil's fane; move and appear!" --- Anton Szandor LaVey. A quote from The Black Pope Himself heads the movie. And so begins this wicked piece of automotive history. A nightmare come to life in black metal & burning rubber. Hell on wheels. A mysterious black car haunts the outskirts of a rural western town. Blackened windows, a raging infernal machine, yet no-one ever gets to see who is behind the wheel. The locals believe it to be the devil Himself..... The motor concealed within the darkened frame rumbles & growls like some great metal beast. It appears when you least expect it, either racing up from brackish pits, or materializing through hills, brooding.....awaiting..... There is no escaping The Car, so don't even try. The Car will drive you straight to Hell. So why not enjoy the ride? .....and what's that hanging from the rear-view mirror? A classic horror film which reaches deep inside the psyche to manifest those dark primal fears. Some people just can't deal with stress very well. A young lady is transported into the shadowy recesses of her own darkside, cued by the infernal instrument of the organ. Her life becomes haunted by her fears & nightmares, as they slither into reality. The camera angles are very creativly utilized, & the sense of eeriness is preserved well throughout the movie. I thought it a great touch to present the movie mostly non-verbal but for a couple of occasions, in order to present realistic dream sequences. Mental torment & fantasy / reality crossover rampant here, without the demoralization. Very well recommended. The Satanic Rites of Dracula A perfect combination of a vampire movie & Satanic thriller, Christpher Lee makes another memorable appearance as the fiend of the Night. There is quite a plan behind this particular world domination. Dracula recognizes the power of viruses, thereby commissioning a "defrocked" scientist to develop another 'black plague' to decimate the earth of its living inhabitants. The dark disciples involved are essentially 'The 4 Horsemen of The Apocalypse' who will bring about mass destruction. Blood Rituals, forboding ceremonies, in which the hoary hosts of Hell are summoned, & a black altar upon which a nude virgin reposes ever so seductively, at The High Priestess' bidding, a beautiful round black Baphomet table, around which the cultists gather is present here --- in sort of a "Knights of Satan" manner. The Satanic Rites of Dracula is an 'occult'-classic that should be in every Satanic horror fan's collection. Viacom / New Media / CD Rom - Starring - Bill Williamson / Kieth Russ / Loise Menkert / Jay Nickelson / Nichole Peterene / Jim McGivern / John Arthur Olson The presentation is about to begin. Darken your chamber, light the candles, burn the incense, & place your thinking cap on. The music grows into a choral tidal wave, singing "Mighty Empress", as the stars' names appear, & fade into a sanguinous abyss of darkness. Based upon Bram Stoker's Dracula, 'Dracula Unleashed' is the only DVD interactive videogame on the market as of yet, & impressive it is! The experience is like interacting with a movie, the scenes, & the characters. You are "Alexander Morris", brother to Texan Quincy Morris, who was mysteriously murdered, & you are here to seek justice. You have been selected by the elite "Hades Club" to be a member of this esteemed, though secretive organization, likened Sir Francis Dashwood's Hellfire Club. It's leader is a "Devlin Goldacre", a real shit-disturber, who mocks Morris relentlessly. Morris travels about London in a cortege' with a really polite driver, searching for the Lord of The Undead, & encounters many travails along the way. One's investigative persuits must be arranged in a particular way, so that a string of clues will lead to the final confrontation. Morris contains several objects in his satchel, which prove useful in various situations. Watch out for lunatics! Periodically, Morris writes in his journal, which also contains the names & addresses of pertinent individuals & locations. There are many artful backgrounds, dark oboesque music, & pretty good acting & costumings. Strongly Recommended. The Dark Crystal Suspend disbelief as you are ushered into this wonderous world, created by Technomancer Jim Henson, who manifests his puppets into existence. It is this same ingenuity that brings these creatures to life. Into the fantastical world of The Dark Crystal..... The Skekses rule here, likened to ceremonial Magicians, drawing Power from the glowing Dark Crystal to celebrate & preserve their rule over the land. The Mystics, sloth-like beings ,who inspire pathos, resemble natural Magicians of the earth, who are also the caretakers of a gelfling, who is basically an elf-like creature, who is prophesied to deliver the world form the "tyranny" of the "evil" Skekses, a-la Moses, a-la Nazarene. There are so many wonderful beings herein --- creatures resembling mutated rabbits on stilts {who provide transportation for the Gelflings}, Podlings {a slave race serving The Skekses, also providing with essence to preserve youth for The Skekses --- indeed, nothing is wasted!}, & a little pet called Fizzgig, who is basically a small hairball with teeth. We meet Okra, who provides some essential clues for the Gelfling quest. The Dark Crystal is a magnificent fantasy-adventure, providing with many Magical evocations & fanciful delights! The Hunger Starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, Susan Sarandon / Horror - Sci-Fi, 1983 A sweetly subtle tale of two contemporary vampire lovers, preying together upon the world's mortal feed This film is a sensual - fest of Dark Erotica. Blood & Sex, with an Aristocratic feel. Still, a tragic element is all too apparent. Together for barely only 200 years, a frightful condition suddenly besets John {Bowie}; an undead Progeria, & nothing seems to stop his degeneration, until he is sadly laid to rest in an eternal catatonia, amongst Miriam's {Deneuve} other past loves. When a revolutionary doctor {Sarandon, of The Rocky Horror Picture Show}, work in this Progeriac field shows promise, she is awestruck by John's condition, & is compelled to seek out this mysterious aging man, until the trail leads to Miriam's door, whee she is swept up into a whirlwind of seduction & passion with her. Of special note, the music video performance of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus intermittant with a rabid monkey introduces the movie in a darkly sinister & cruelly antiseptic manner. The Hunger concludes when poetic justice falls upon Miriam, in a moving scene which really sinks in. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory The iconoclast has created his own kingdom according to his precise design, at the same time providing a wonderful world of reality / fantasy crossover for children of all ages. This movie is indeed Satanic, & let Me explain why. Each participant harbors rather rotten personality traits, either insensitivity towards others, Letharginator neurosis, obnoxiousness, excessive gluttony, &/or disobedience. Total self-uncontrol. And the parents were spineless. Basically, they are all brats ----- except for one. The chosen one. He who demostrates deportment & consideration. I Am reminded of Dr. LaVey's sign on the bookshelf in the purple parlour, "Do not remove books from shelves. Anyone caught removing books from shelves, will have their hands chopped off." This is in fact, the exremely simular way in which Mr. Wonka operates his factory. Unfortunately for them, they did not bother to really read the disclaimer at the beginning of the tour. The question is, would it have mattered anyway? For about the first 45 minutes or so, we become acquainted with the characters' predispositions towards the afore-mentioned traits. There's Varuca Salt, an unsufferable brat devoid of manners. There's a TV-loving cowboy kid whose entire existence seems to be centered around the boob-tube. There's a gum-chewing girl who does not listen to advice when given, & then there's a German boy who can't get enough food ---- whatever it is. In every case, they exhibit irresponsible & just annoying tendencies that need to be abated. Every one of these, after being tested, meets with an appropriate & poetic fate, all commandeered by the resident God, Willy Wonka. The infamous "Golden Ticket," the instrument of their greed, brought them to The Chocolate Factory, but this is natural, for what candy-loving child can resist a trek into the wonderful world of Wonka? Indeed, all of the events leading up to the gates seemed planned. Within the hallowed walls of that chocomantium, there are total environments at every turn, each with their respective rides & attractions. Mr. Wonka makes a wonderful host; animated & witty. We get to see the "Umpa-Loompahs" from "Umpahland", & become familiar with their lore ----- it seems that kind Mr. Wonka took them in because they were being preyed upon by "Pernicious Knids", & other marvellous creatures from Umpahland. The Umpahloompahs provide moralistically compelling questions to the viewer with delightful little dances & songs. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory is a semi-musical & comical production, providing interesting insights & alternative techniques of moral instruction.