Maybe it ’s a genuine fascination with spiritualism , or perhaps it ’s a morbid enchantment with the unexplainable . Whatever the reason , many are draw to the realm of occultism , and the subject run to be fresh fish for assumed repulsion and thriller moving-picture show . That say , there ’s a far more serious side to the occult arts that often goes undiscovered .

as luck would have it , there are at least a smattering of documentary out there that offer good accounts and representation of the occult . While many of these works seek to elevate the niche beyond camp repulsion trope status , these make for fulfilling sentinel for both those seeking to gain insight and those looking to be scared .

The Pendle Witch Child

In 1612 , a nine - class - old child was made to condemn her own female parent as a beldam in a series of trial that would send shockwaves through history . Taking property in the English town of Pendle Hill , these run led to the execution of ten people and helped toset the stage for the more widely - recognized Salem Witch Trialswhich occurred close to eighty age afterwards .

This 2012 docudrama examine many of the grisly particular recounted in a historic document about the trials penned by a valet de chambre advert Thomas Potts . It also explores its wide significance and the British monarchy ’s unusual fixation with the situation .

Kymatica (2009)

handle hard in mysticism , occultism , and metaphysics , Kymaticais a judicious lookout man that may take hearing several viewing academic term to in good order support . Introducing ideas of a experience Earth and macrocosm that exist in a symbiosis with humanity , this documentary discusses how we as a species lost and may be able-bodied to reestablish spiritual connections known to our ancestors .

While it ’s by no means creepy in a traditional sense , Kymaticaimparts a sort of the - abysm - star - back sentience of existential dread in viewers . It may come across as fantastical to many , but the documentary irrespective makes for some interesting food for thought .

Sacred Weeds (1998)

In this four - part serial , Dr. Andrew Sherrat explore the underground world of psychoactive substance and set their connections to the ancient human race . Of particular tone is the docudrama ’s third instalment which deals with stinking nightshade , a notorious plant think to have been used by practitioners of witchcraft and occultism centuries ago .

Though far from explicitly chilling , consecrated Weeds provides some interesting insight into ancient culture ’s tie-up with psychoactive substances . As it turn out , head - change philosophers' stone may have had a major part in the establishment and further development of human religion , society , and culture .

Satanis: The Devil’s Mass (1970)

Anton LaVey was the founding father of the Church of Satan and is generally regarded as one of the most influential pattern in the realm of Satanism . However , his movement spawned legions of detractors both modern-day and modern , and these opinion arebest summarise in the 1970 documentarySatanis : The Devil ’s Mass.

The film document the establishment of LaVey ’s San Fransisco - based church building and include interviews with himself and his following , but it also chronicles those who opposed LaVey and highlights some interaction with concerned neighbors and local religious leaders .

Scream Greats Vol. 2: Satanism And Witchcraft (1986)

Unapologetically a Cartesian product of its time , 1986’sScream Greats Vol . 2 : Satanism and Witchcraftfeels like a bit of a scare tactic imply to keep adolescent from play around in the supernatural . That said , it does provide some interesting background on the theme and is n’t completely immanent in its presentation . It is , however , undoubtedly cheesy by modern standards .

Interestingly enough , this documentary is notable for let in interview with demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren , who became celebrated all over again when their exploits were adapted to the silver screenland in James Wan’sThe Conjuringand its sequel . Overall , while date , this would make for some uproarious , hokey Halloween view .

Until The Light Takes Us (2008)

In 1991 , arsonists targetted a serial of churches in Norway , and the crimes were considered to be connect tothe rise of an extreme subgenre of musicknown as black metal . A radical of occult practitioners associate with the bootleg alloy movement known as The Black Circle was thought to be behind the criminal offense , though the coalition finally fell asunder after the controversial and contested execution of a big player in the view .

Until the Light Takes Uschronicles the upshot which lead up to these church burnings and features interviews with the isthmus member at once take in the scene . The events discussed in this infotainment were finally depicted in the 2018 filmLords of Chaos .

The Nightmare (2015)

The Nightmarefocuses on the experience those who suffer from nap palsy have endured and set about to recreate the fear and terror the condition can invoke . While it walk the course between a infotainment chronicling the lives of actual people and a shlocky B - grade horror motion picture , it offers an interesting look into an often undiscussed illness .

Crucially , The Nightmareabstains from invite a scientific perspective , focusing instead on the emotional bell of those who ’ve experienced sleep paralysis . While there are n’t really any explicitoccult connections , story of devil , tail people , and the paranormal , those who ’ve experienced a sleep palsy episode can attest to the terrific naive realism of these apparitions .

The Occult History Of The Third Reich (1991)

While it ’s not an ofttimes - discussed aspect of World War 2 , German leadership during the dispute had a vested interest group in occultism . Heinrich Himmler was , in particular , deeply engaged in the occult and consider that traces and artifact of Germany ’s so - call master race could be discovered in outback persona of the world .

Although far from the most important aspect of the war , it provide unique brainstorm into the action and beliefs of Germany ’s high command at the prison term . This 1991 four - part docu - series should scheme those casually concerned in the occult , as well as those heavy invested in military history .

Rasputin: The Devil in the Flesh (2002)

As czarist Russia careened ever closer to revolution in the 1910s , Czar Nicholas II turned increasingly to his trusted medicine man Rasputin for guidance . Rasputin was a controversial and mysterious build whom the Russian public distrusted , and many consider that Nicholas II ’s ties to the religious mystic hastened his deposition .

This 2002 documentary delf into the foreign life of Rasputin and explores the influence he had over Russia ’s govern family . It also key the many occult aspects of the man ’s life and works out precisely how he reach his sinister repute .

Aleister Crowley: The Wickedest Man In The World (2002)

When occultism is discussed , Aleister Crowley ’s name is bound to come up . A self - discover prophet born in England in 1875 , Crowley traveled the macrocosm and purportedly pull ahead noesis of all thing arcane and otherworldly . He is perhaps best known as the father of Thelema , though he ’s think of today as an alternative pop culture icon similar to Anton LaVey .

As the name might imply , Aleister Crowley : The Wickedest Man in the Worldpaints its subject in a terrific lighter and does its best to unsettle viewers . It explore the veracity of Crowley ’s claim and offers audience with several historian who believe he may have been every routine as evil as he claim .

NEXT : The 9 Scariest Documentaries For The Halloween Season

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

How Rachel Zegler’s

Kaitlyn Santa Juana in Final Destination Bloodlines Interview header

Rasputin, Aleister Crowley, and Anton Levy in various documentaries about the occult.

The thumbnail from the Pendle Witch Child documentary.

A promotional poster for the 2009 spiritualism documentary Kymatica.

A still from the four-part documentary series titled Sacred Weeds.

Anton Levy as seen in the 1970 documentary The Devil’s Mass.

Cover image from the 1986 VHS documentary Satanism and Witchcraft

A black metal musician featured in the 2008 documentary Until The Light Takes Us.

A sleep paralysis demon as depicted in the 2015 documentary The Nightmare.

A still from the four-part docu-series The Occult History of the Third Reich.

A picture of Rasputin used in a 2002 documentary.

An image of Aleister Crowley used in a 2002 documentary titled Aleister Crowley: The Wickedest Man In The World.

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