Kenneth Anger was an American underground experimental filmmaker, actor, and author. Anger was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1927. He began making films as a teenager, and his early work was influenced by the Surrealist movement.
Anger’s films are often erotic and occult in nature, and they have been praised for their visual style and their exploration of taboo subjects. Working exclusively in short films, he produced almost 40 works beginning in 1937, nine of which have been grouped together as the “Magick Lantern Cycle”.
Anger’s most famous film is probably “Scorpio Rising” (1963), a visually stunning film that explores the dark side of American culture. Anger’s other films include “Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” (1954), “Lucifer Rising” (1972), and “Invocation of My Demon Brother” (1969).
Anger was also a prolific author, and he wrote several books on occultism and cinema, including “Hollywood Babylon” (1959) and “The Book of Anger” (1965).
How can I watch Kenneth Anger?
Streaming: Some of Anger’s films are available to stream on various platforms, such as MUBI, The Criterion Channel, and YouTube.
DVD/Blu-ray: Many of Anger’s films have been released on DVD and Blu-ray.
Theater: Some of Anger’s films are occasionally screened at arthouse theaters.
Where do I start with Kenneth Anger?
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few of Anger’s most popular films:
Fireworks (1947)
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954)
Scorpio Rising (1963)
Invocation of My Demon Brother (1969)
Lucifer Rising (1972)
These films are all visually stunning and explore a variety of themes, including occultism, sexuality, and violence.
Once you’ve watched a few of Anger’s films, you can explore his other work. He has made over 40 films, so you’re sure to find something that interests you.