VERTICAL POOL PRESENTS
A Zany Occult Thriller!

"The complex, expertly constructed story involves a struggle for succession, a murder,
and a demonic possession. The twists of the story kept me glued to the screen through
several viewings; absolutely riveting and the cinematography is gorgeous. A stellar cast,
the film's great depth and power will keep you thinking for a very long time."
-- David Finkelstein, FilmThreat (4 stars); click this for the complete review
The Torrid Tale...(no spoilers)
The elder Magus of the Thelemic Temple of Horus (Arden Schaeffer) has passed away. Jack Mason (James Wagner), a promising young sex magickian cultivated to advance the lineage, loses his chance at occult advancement when the elder Magus' biological son (Duncan Cook) unexpectedly inherits The Order. Jack plots deadly revenge and falls into a dizzying maze of underworld encounters with professional psychopaths (Elijah Parizhsky, Nick Walker, Russ DeGregory), desert brujas (Nancy Leatzow, Erif Anduin), and a twist of fate he never saw coming. Or did he? Meanwhile, Jack assigns his two hot-headed apprentices (Jasper Patterson and Brian Livingston) an ego-corrosive ritual of going into business as clowns to perform the classic fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk, for children.
"This is either an authentic occult initiation disguised as a joke
or a joke disguised as an authentic occult initiation; maybe both."
- Antero Alli, director/writer
and
Hear music from this film's soundtrack at Cast and Crew pages
by Sylvi Alli and Space Team Electra
"It's not to be missed. This is a work of art and magic. I can't do it justice,
but strongly recommend it. Word to the wise: avoid thinking that any of it
is commentary on existing Orders of Thelemites. The Thelemic material is
just the context, and it's really about the characters and their deep flaws,
and how these develop and change in the context of magical practice."
- Joseph Thiebes, Thelemite, Priest of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica
READ THE FILM REVIEWS AND FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS
FILMOGRAPHY and DIRECTOR'S VISION STATEMENT
THIS FILM'S LISTING @ I.M.D.B. and
SCREENING HISTORY

THE DVD
Available from the director
CONTACTS
ANTERO ALLI - antero@paratheatrical.com
P.O. Box 10144, Berkeley CA USA 94709
510-464-4640