1964's greatest: scorpio rising

blasting pop songs from the late 50's and early 60's to fetishized images of motorcyclists putting on their leather attire and fixing their bikes, kenneth anger creates a fantastical, often grotesque world that seems intent on being run by madness. here you have religious imagery intercut with tawdry costume parties, a bedroom covered in james dean insignia, and a vague sense of homoerotica that all culminates in a cycle race, the surf classic "wipeout" wailing in the background. there are many films that are called "groundbreaking," but with its pre-mtv aesthetics and visual ecstasy, it's hard not to see why it caused such a stir then and why it still blows many blockbusters out the water today.