New Documentary: American Mystic

This new film by Alex Mar is currently screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a close study of three different practitioners of alternative spiritual paths, including a Spiritualist in New York, a pagan priestess in rural California, and a Native American shaman/sundancer in South Dakota. The film is as much about landscape and how it inspires spiritual engagement, as it is about these three people and their specific beliefs and practices.

I hope you'll all keep an eye out for this film and go to see it if/when it comes to your city, and buy it when it becomes available on DVD. I am going to try and get a screening copy so I can post a review here. Jason at the Wild Hunt Blog has also posted some great coverage of this film, and has spoken with the filmmaker and producer, so watch his site for a possible forthcoming interview.

The Road

My review of The Road, John Hillcoat's film of Cormac McCarthy's novel, is up at Cinefantastique Online.

I haven't read McCarthy's Pulitzer-Prize winning novel, but plan to soon. I found very horrifying and moving, with wonderful performances and a very effective visual design. This post-apocalyptic world is horrifyingly plausible, and very thought-provoking. It seems that survivalism has been quietly increasing out there, and not long ago I blogged about the phenomenon of "green survivalism" which is a new twist on the old stereotype. Hoarding antibiotics and ammunition has, for some people, been augmented by learning how to grow and preserve food. And if McCarthy's vision of the future is accurate, there will definitely be a need for food preservation, as there won't be a single tree, shrub or blade of grass left, much less any animals. I think this film ought to be required viewing for anyone in a position of power who makes decisions regarding our nuclear, agricultural or military future. But then, I doubt anyone would actually learn anything.

Season of the Witch

This new film starring Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman and directed by Dominic Sena (Gone in Sixty Seconds) portrays a medieval warrior (Cage) who is given the task of escorting a witch (Claire Foy) through the French countryside to stand trial for causing the spread of the Black Plague.

This trailer gives a taste: flaming pentagrams, leaping wolves, telekinetic acrobatics, and lots of horses! Oh, goody: another evil witchcraft film. At least this one looks like it might have an authentic medieval look. Season of the Witch is slated to open in March 2010.

I'd have preferred an adaptation of James Leo Herlihy's excellent novel of the same title; or even a 90 minute video of Donovan performing his classic song. But no.

Rest in Peace, Sergeant Howie

British actor Edward Woodward has passed away at the age of 79. He will be remembered fondly by many pagan film lovers for his excellent portrayal of Sergeant Howie in Robin Hardy's 1973 horror classic The Wicker Man.

My obituary of him appears here. Woodward was a consummate actor of stage, screen and television, as well as an accomplished singer. He wa salso well regarded for his roles in Breaker Morant and The Equalizer. He was also a lusty, powerful Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott (pictured above). But he will always be Sergeant Neil Howie to many of us: repressed, arrogant, condescending, complex, vulnerable, naive, doomed.



It's difficult to estimate the influence of this strange and beautiful film on the contemporary pagan community. Some pagan viewers find it horrifying; some treat it as pure camp and fun. But for many of us, it represents a dreamlike vision of what is possible within a truly Utopian context, albeit an extreme and bloodthirsty one. But I feel sure many who have dreamed of founding pagan schools and pagan villages have had these images and words in their minds: Miss Rose's pedantic lectures on phallic symbols, the impresario Lord Summerisle's ritual orchestrations, the nightly lovemaking in the town green, the gathering of pregnant women in the blossoming orchards, the constant performance of music. I can think of worse models to emulate.

Farewell, Mr. Woodward, and thank you for sharing your gifts. They will be the stuff of many fond memories for many years to come.

Robin Hardy in New York!

Director Robin Hardy will be hosting a Q & A following a screening of 1973's The Wicker Man at 92Y in Tribeca, and will also present a teaser/trailer of the new film, The Wicker Tree! A very exciting event, also with live music by Effi Briest, Silver Summit and Wooden Shjips. More information from the Village Voice online.

Sure wish I could be there! I hope you New Yorkers will let us know how it goes!

Ponyo: Pagan? or Pedestrian?

For anyone interested in its possible pagan themes, I regret to inform that Hayao Miyazaki's eagerly-awaited new film PONYO is a huge disappointment. That's not to say the art direction and animation are not first rate as always. But, by combining forces with Disney, Studio Ghibli has produced a film aimed at kids that simply hasn't the depth, heart or magic of Miyazaki's former masterpieces PRINCESS MONONOKE, SPIRITED AWAY or HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. Even KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (about the child witch, remember?) has more soul than this.

I have a brief review posted here. I don't go into the underutilized pagan imagery and themes. The fact that Ponyo is a fish born of a mortal man (a wizard no less!) and a sea goddess, who becomes a girl through sheer force of will and her own suggested magical powers, or that Ponyo (it is said) can helo restore the balance of the world through love, are all things which could have been powerful threads in the story. But the details of Ponyo's abilities are almost nonexistent. The reason for the earth's inbalance (maybe to do with all the garbage by the sea shore?) are unexplained. And the relationship between the mortal wizard and the sea goddess (voiced by Liam Neeson and Cate Blanchett, no less) is unsatisfyingly vague. Pity. The film is sumptuous to look upon and often thrilling in its fast-paced action. But the ideas and symbolism so clearly aching to be given expression are given a back seat to silly dialogue and juvenile humor. I blame Disney. Hayao, please stick with your own studio next time.

In other movie news: as always Jason at The Wild Hunt has some interesting updates on the WICKER MAN remake, which has been retitled The Wicker Tree. It seems financial difficulties have been addressed and the production is moving ahead. Speed the Day!

Review of Synechdoche, New York

My review of Charlie Kauffman's excellent film SYNECHDOCHE, NEW YORK is up now at Cinefanastique Online. This is my first review for this long-standing magazine devoted to horror cinema. I pitched the idea of SYNECHDOCHE as a horror film, which it was originally meant to be. I'm happy to be published in this fine mag and am glad to see them going strong on the web.