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Domy Movie Nights: Holy Mountain

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 film never became a cult classic – but it’s hard to see why not

A A A Comments By D.L. Groover Thursday, Jul 9 2009

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If you thought that Alejandro Jodorowsky’s El Topo (1971) was an acid trip and a half, wait until you see his follow-up, Holy Mountain (1973). Virtually unseen for years because of problems with producer Allen Klein (who was also a producer for the Beatles), Holy Mountain was financed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The flick never became a midnight cult classic/pot-head hit like Topo— and it’s hard to see why not. The film is filled with the same overheated images of bad sex, degradation, amputation, kiddie porn and ‘70s costumes. (Wow, look at those platform shoes on the guru of the mountain!) There’s not much plot — a Jesus wannabe looks for salvation, sort of. There’s a little dialogue, and more zoom shots than the entire oeuvre of the French New Wave, but you have to give Jodorowsky credit for a loopy vision that combined the theater of cruelty, the worst of surrealism, a complete misreading of Eastern philosophy and a fondness for Tarot cards. Let’s not forget the “sacrifice of 1,000 testicles” sequence, or the “giant toad conquest of Mexico” (which would give PETA a cow if filmed today). Enter at your own risk and, if possible, go stoned. 8:30 p.m. Domy Books, 1709 Westheimer. For information, call 713-523-3669, or visit www.domystore.com. Free.
Mon., July 13, 8:30 p.m., 2009