“Magick” as defined by Aleister Crowley is “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will.” This book explores expressions of movie magick in classic occult films like Hammer’s adaptation of Dennis Wheatley’s The Devil Rides Out and modern occult revival movies. These films are inspired by the aesthetics of fin de siècle decadence, the symbolist writings of Villiers de l’Isle Adam, Wagnerian music drama, the Faust legend, the pseudo-science of theosophy, 1960s occult psychedelia, occult conspiracy theories and obscure aspects of animation.

David Huckvale has worked as a researcher, writer and presenter for BBC Radio and as a lecturer for various universities in England. He lives in rural Bedfordshire.

David Huckvale
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 215
Bibliographic Info: 29 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7437-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3375-6
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction 1
One. Decadence 11
Two. Symbolist Horrors 28
Three. Occult Fantasy Before the Movies 40
Four. Silent Magick 50
Five. Ritual 64
Six. Willpower 82
Seven. Return of the Magi 102
Eight. Theological Horror 115
Nine. Theosophy 129
Ten. Psychedelia 143
Eleven. Conspiracy 158
Twelve. Faust 170
Thirteen. Animagick 179
Chapter Notes 189
Bibliography 196
Index 199