In Search Of The Great Beast 666

In Search Of The Great Beast 666 is a dramatic and enlightening exploration of the life and spiritual journey of Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), a man often described as the Wickedest Man in the World. Directed by Robert Garofalo and released in 2007, this thought-provoking documentary drama stars Neil Charnaud as Aleister Crowley and features Colm Feore, a veteran Canadian actor and the voice expressing various aspects of Crowley's writings and teachings.

In Search Of The Great Beast 666 delves deep into the life of Aleister Crowley, who was a controversial and prominent figure of his time— a poet, mountain climber, occultist, and a self-proclaimed prophet. He believed himself to be the prophet of a new age, the Aeon of Horus, based on a spiritual experience he had in Egypt in 1904, in which he 'received' a text known as The Book of the Law from what he believed to be a divine source.

Blending dramatic reconstructions, rare archive footage, and careful analysis, the film provides a balanced exploration of the man who delighted in courting scandal and toying with bourgeois sensibilities. It features an in-depth examination of Aleister Crowley's philosophies, practices, and his influence on pop culture.

Neil Charnaud convincingly plays the title role, presenting an authentic and nuanced portrayal of Crowley. He perfectly captures the mystique, eccentricities, and charisma that so enigmatically characterized The Great Beast. Colm Feore, on the other hand, lends his distinctive voice to narrate excerpts from Crowley's essential writings, bringing to life and injecting a new depth into Crowley's profound, complex, and often controversial ideas that continue to intrigue and provoke audiences to this day.

The film covers various stages of Crowley's life journey. His birth and upbringing in Plymouth, England, as a member of the Plymouth Brethren, a strict Christian sect, his father's death, which led him to break barriers and delve into the occult, his time in Cambridge, his global travels, and the various occult societies he was involved in – most notably the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), which he would come to lead.

It also provides an overview of Crowley's spiritual development, detailing how he rose from initiate to the head of the O.T.O and his establishment of the religious movement Thelema. The documentary reveals the influences that shaped Crowley's beliefs - including Eastern religions, yoga, and ceremonial magic - and explores his significant contributions to modern occultism.

In Search Of The Great Beast 666 doesn't shy away from depicting the darker sides of Crowley's life – including his drug addiction, sex magick rituals, and the controversy and dissention he caused within the realm of the esoteric societies of the time. At the same time, it doesn't sensationalize these aspects of his life but instead presents an unvarnished and objective view, allowing the viewers to form their own judgment about this enigmatic figure.

In addition to the dramatizations and narrations, the documentary features expert commentary by leading occult scholars, academics and authors who shed light on Crowley's life and teachings, further enhancing the comprehension of this complex, mystifying character. Rich with historical background and context, these opinions make the movie a deeply captivating and educational journey into the mind and beliefs of one of history's most fascinating and controversial characters.

Shot in several locations across the world, including the United Kingdom, India, Egypt, and the United States, the film visually captures various periods of Aleister Crowley's life and his environments. This, combined with a rich, ambient score, sets an immersive mood that complements the comprehensive historical and biographical narrative.

In essence, In Search Of The Great Beast 666 offers a captivating chronicle of Aleister Crowley's life, his spiritual quest, and the profound legacy he left behind. It serves both as an informative resource for those interested in his philosophies, modern occultism, or early 20th-century esoteric societies, as well as a compelling historical drama for the general viewer. This film does an admirable job of capturing Aleister Crowley's audacious life, his search for truth, freedom, and transcendence, which maintains to captivate and provoke audiences to this day.