Who can be described as the face of pure evil? We’ve all seen truly evil characters in film like Damian in The Omen and Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. We’ve also seen people defined as evil in our own world: Hitler, Charles Manson, Jeffery Dahmer, and Osama bin Laden to name a few.
But is there someone who trumps them all in this category of the world’s most evil person?
Meet Aleister Crowley. A man whom many believed was the most vile, evil, and debauched human being ever to live on this planet. From the late 1800s to the 1940s, Crowley studied and practiced rituals of the occult, engaged in sex magic, wrote pornographic works, debased and humiliated men and women through sadistic sexual practices, and engaged in the use of illicit drugs.
Now, many of these items listed above that led to his self-proclaimed and later headline-grabbing moniker as “the wickedest man in the world” can be attributed to celebrities and politicians of late. But there was something about Crowley that made him a figure that both repulsed and attracted people. Something that made him a savior to some and the antichrist to others.
What’s more, Crowley has intriguing links to a variety of famous people including Hitler, L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology), Ian Fleming (the creator of James Bond), and even Barbara, George H.W., and George W. Bush! And no, I doubt that Dick Cheney is the reincarnation of this man.
Through reenactments and monologues, Crowley’s life and experiences come to life through this documentary. Narrated by the great Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2), the film does not pass judgment or attempt to analyze Crowley’s behavior. Instead, it is a straightforward look at how he perceived himself and how society at the time of his life perceived him.
I highly recommend this documentary.
For special features and more check out the official website by clicking here.
[AUTHOR’S NOTE: This documentary is NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN as it contains bad language, nudity, sexual content, and verbal depictions of violence and sex acts.]