Video Views

Home

Reviews

Review Archives

Box-Office Scores

Release Dates

Crowley

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Cast:Simon Callow, John Shrapnel

Director:Julian Doyle

Genre:Horror

Year: 2009

Rating:NR

He was known as " The Wickedest Man in the World" or simply 'The Beast'. More than 60 years after his death, the demonic life and works of British occultist Aleister Crowley has continued to capture our darkest imaginations. In this provocative supernatural thriller co -written by legendary Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, a virtual reality experiment gone wrong sends the soul of the infamous madman into the body of a shy university professor. But even as Crowly creates all - new orgies of depraved pleasures and black magic, is he now preparing to unleash the ultimate occult event upon the world?

This was released in the UK under the name "Chemical Wedding". Directed by Julian Doyle who did work on Monty Python as the editor and you can see his touch is present here as well. This may be a film a lot of people will need to sit down to more than once as there is a lot going on and at times the film is random and very confusing, also its use of both science and physics talk might have you scratching your head at times as well. This is a British horror and it plays like one too so take all you have gathered from Hollywood horror and toss it out because Crowley turns the genre upside down here. Basically the story involves the reincarnation of the spirit of Aleister Crowley(the Beast) in the body of stuttering professor Haddo at a Cambridge university.How this is done involves some sort of Dr who type space suit and some computer binary programme of Crowley's mind. After that he has four days to become completely human again. The role is played by Simon Callow, it seems he was born ready to play this part, he really chews it up. If the film has a flaw its that it seems to be too busy, just too much mixed that ultimately begins to confuse the viewer. Aside from that I found it to be at least original and refreshing and a great escape from the same old horror we are use to seeing all the time. I think with a little more care on the editing side this could of easily become a cult classic but it still entertains. The film also has a wonderful twist ending that I thought was perfect after all I experienced up till the climax. Aleister Crowley was a master of the occult, the film shows him a bit more evil but I am sure he would be smiling at the thought of it all. Crowley is a nasty flick with sex and murder mixed in with science and magic make it pure fun. If you are looking for something different to watch and like movies outside those of mainstream then I highly recommend giving this a look at, it certainly is different in a good way. Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment. **** Out Of *****