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Date: Sun, 08 Jun 1997 07:01:50 -0600
From: bhanson@enternet.com.au
Subject: Satanic Cinema
Newsgroups: alt.satanism
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Interesting HBO Movie

I've just finished watching a rather interesting movie produced by HBO in
'94.  It may be a "B" grader as far as box office is concerned, but I
found it a finely honed piece of satire which links the Satanic Ritual
Abuse hysterics and profiteers with good old Senator McCarthy and his
minions with sledgehammer subtlety.

The movie is _Witch Hunt_, starring Dennis Hopper.  Apologies to everyone
of this is old news, but the movie has Anton Szandor LaVey written all
over it.  My reasons for this assertion are as follows:

1. It is a remake of the film noir genre - diminished by colour somewhat
but what the Hell.

2. It has a superb bluesy soundtrack reminiscent of that genre

3. The heroine has a trademark of pink - e.g. driving a pink car (Jayne
Mansfield..??)

4. The movie is set in 1953, not only the worst year for McCarthy Hysteria
(the execution of the Rosenburgs), but wasn't it also the year Monroe's
career took off (can't remeber whether it was the year of her Playboy
spread or not)

5. The protagonist is an anti-hero, by the name of H.Philip Lovecraft

6. The hypothetical is that Hollywood was pervaded by magic - burlesqued
by the movie BUT as we know, movies _are_ powerful Lesser Magical tools,
and Hollywood _has_ always been in the magic business in this sense.

7. A recurring theme is the water element - water... Leviathan... the
Serpent of the Watery Abyss... the Baphomet??

8. The fanatically anti-magic crusading Senator in the movie is called
(Bob!?) Larson Crockett.  He doesn't drink, doen't smoke, and holds a
rally where the Boy Scouts have their Jamboree... too subtle??

9. The theme is strongly misanthropic - the Senator complains about his
whining constituents, saying that if you put ten people in a room, they
might not elect a leader, but they would puck someone to hate.

10. The Senator picks the vulnerability of magic as an "outsider".  His
retort... "what, are we going to go after big business" (as a scapegoat).

11. As Dr LaVey predicts, the American Fascism of the movie comes in with
blaring brass bands blasting out Sousa marches.  Like the Huey Long quote
- Fascism arrives as Americanism.

Just some food for thought.  I'd welcome any others who know anything
about this or have any comments.  Too obscure???


Bradford

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