This documentary looks at the "Church of Satan" (aka "The Black House"), founded by Anton LaVey in San Francisco in the 1960s. There are interviews with LaVey, his wife, Diane, his teenage daughter, Karla, people in the neighborhood, members of his "church", a couple of Christian priests, and two Mormons as well as clips from several ceremonies/rituals at the CoS. Be prepared for lots of casual, non-Hollywood nudity.
LaVey explains that satanism is "a selfish religion," that believes in indulging in greed and lust. No wonder so many people in the entertainment industry and politics are drawn to it! He says that the carnal is more important than the soul and that everyone should be free to indulge in fetishes, if it doesn't hurt anyone. "If you're gonna be a sinner, be the best sinner on the block," he quips. It sometimes seems like LaVey is trying not to burst out in giggles as he spouts this stuff. He looks and sounds a bit like Howie Mandel and it would be hilarious if Mandel were to play him in a comedy version of the goings-on at the Black House. He stresses that they don't do any actual human or animal sacrifices, just, "human sacrifices by proxy," putting hexes and curses on people they don't like.
Diane says that the LaVeys are a normal family (because they eat regular meals and try to get enough sleep) who are involved with, "some topics that are abnormal." When asked about the CoS members, Karla responds, "They're nuts!" The attitudes of their neighbors range from tolerant to slightly amused to annoyed.
If the idea was to make the priests and Mormons look intolerant or uncool, it fails miserably because they all come across as quite reasonable. One priest states that the CoS is "...just a means of personal aggrandizement and enhancement..." One of the Mormons says that, although he thinks satanism is morally wrong, he believes in freedom of speech and thinks that, "Each person should have the ability to express their views." He also states his concern about the way the female members of the CoS are treated, adding that he wouldn't want someone using his sister that way.
No one seems to find LaVey or the CoS a real threat. The most irate of the neighbors is more annoyed at having to clean up shingles that fall from LaVey's roof than at anything going on in the house. Some of the interviews would've benefitted from the use of a tripod as the hand-held camera work can be shaky.
The word "satanist" conjures up a menacing image but LaVey's flock come across like a bunch of kids LARPing. It's as if they got bored with their usual cocktail parties so first, they tried LSD, then they tried key parties, then they thought, "Hmm...what can we do now? Ooh, I know, Let's try satanism!"
A couple of the women say that they came to the CoS through an interest in witchcraft. One admits that she wasn't really interested in satanism but met LaVey at a class where she was learning to make love potions and cast spells to attract men. Another woman is interviewed while she sits, stark naked, on the altar. There's an episode of "Seinfeld" where Jerry explains that there's "good naked and bad naked." Well, the nudity here is bad naked. Imagine, a 53 year-old (as in 50+ years ago, not today) woman sitting spread-eagle on a mantel with a skull placed strategically in front of her vajayjay, as she casually chats, for an uncomfortably long time, about her life and involvement in the church. When asked about how being on the altar, during a ceremony, makes her feel, she gushes about adrenaline, "satanic ecstasy," and the "completely exhilarating" charge it gives her.
And then there's those ceremonies...
The goofy costumes, grainy, washed-out film stock, reddish lighting, camera angles, and organ music give them the air of a cheesy '60s horror flick. The goateed LaVey wears a black robe, hood, devil horns and a medallion. He looks about as scary as the Underwood ham devil.
It seems that there has to be a naked woman on the altar of the CoS at all times. Other women are nude or strip during the rituals. It's kinda funny that this group, that espouses equality, makes the women disrobe completely but not the men. LaVey's wife never undresses either.
In one ceremony, a guy in a mask has his pants and shorts pulled down and is whipped (looks like it hurts) while LaVey recites a rhyming incantation. Then, congregants open a coffin to reveal a naked woman inside. The whippee climbs in, on top of her, she embraces him, and the lid is closed over them. I can see the guys at Hammer Films crying, "Why didn't WE think of that?!"
Another ritual, where everyone sways to slow drum music as nude women handle live snakes and rub them on their privates, seems to go on forever. During the last ceremony, a guy recites the Our Father and other prayers backwards. Not very original. Can't they write their own stuff? Then, a guy in a mask and robe goes over the knees of the naked woman on the altar and she bares his bottom and fondles it as LaVey calls congregants forward to ask him for help.
"What is your desire?," he asks a milquetoast-looking guy. The man replies, "I would like Satan to arouse insatiable desire in the heart of that lovely, young bank teller who just moved into my neighborhood. He said his name was Roger." So LaVey recites a spell designed to enflame Roger's passions. Then a young, nerdy, bespectacled type says, "I desire that the powers of darkness should bestow upon a certain section of my anatomy attributes that will enable it to perform it's duties better to my satisfaction and it's own..." The kid seems to be trying not to laugh as LaVey holds a sword to his head and recites an incantation including phrases like, "...the scourge of flesh, the rod of bone, the shaft of sin..." Everyone affects a stentorious tone, like they're in a school play.
With the requests out of the way, LaVey turns his attention to the bare bum on the altar. He waves his hand over it, waves a sword over it, has his wife kiss it, recites an incantation, blesses it, rings a bell, passes the bell over it, then blows out a candle to conclude the service. A young guy watching this all go down looks absolutely terrified.
The documentary doesn't really have a POV (although the last line spoken hints that maybe it's not all to be taken too seriously). It meanders. It was obviously shot on a low budget and the camera work could've been a lot better. It's interesting in an, "Oh, so that's what satanists do in their masses," kinda way. The "church" comes across as an alternative to a swingers or BDSM club (I would guess that the trappings of a church made it feel like a safer environment). The "religion" seems like a way for it's followers to indulge in kinky behavior without feeling guilty.
Imagine being the child or grandchild of one of the CoS members shown here and watching this. Naked altar lady would be over 100 today!
3 out of 3 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink