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THE OCCULT WORLD OF ROCK SAVAGE: WITCHES AND GHOSTS
Directed by Rock SavageD.C.-area filmmaker Rock Savage tries his hand at documentaries yet again with THE OCCULT WORLD OF ROCK SAVAGE: WITCHES AND GHOSTS. More talking head interview then in-depth examination about its' subjects, THE OCCULT WORLD delves into two subjects that Rock has an obvious interest in. Unfortunately, an interest on the part of the filmmaker doesn't always make an interesting viewing experience for the audience.
The first section of THE OCCULT WORLD is an interview with Witches Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, two leaders in the current neo-pagan movement. The two provide a short overview of current witchcraft (they hate to be called Pagans), but viewers never get a sense of context for their belief system. I'd even go so far as to say that they come across as if they would rather be anywhere else then sitting with Rock. With that in mind, it's surprising that Farrar returns later in the program.
Filmed at the long gone American Dime Museum in Baltimore, Benjamin Radford, managing editor at Skeptical Inquirer, is next to sit in front of Rock's camera as the topic suddenly switches to ghosts. Unlike Farrar and Bone, he seems to be genuinely pleased to share his thoughts. He presents a point of view that I'm personally more able to accept, despite my own run ins with otherworldly apparitions. While he doesn't deny the existence of ghosts, Radford believes that all ghostly phenomena that he's run into over the years are a purely psychological phenomenon. He believes in adage that there's no such thing as haunted places only haunted people. He then goes on to discuss the largest problem with most Paranormal Researchers today and that's their "arguments of ignorance." Just because you can't prove that something isn't paranormal does not automatically make it paranormal, all the researcher has proven is that the specific something is unknown. In order for something to be "proven," one must provide "proof."
After Radford makes his convincing argument for skeptics, Rock then takes us to a reportedly "haunted house," one where even the owner admits to never having experienced any phenomenon. All reports come second hand to him. As with most reportedly haunted houses along the Mason-Dixon line, this place was reportedly part of the underground railroad, a daytime hideout for slaves escaping their fates during and prior to the civil war.
It's here that Rock reintroduces Farrar, who is far more eloquent here then she was a few moments prior. Not only is she a practicing Witch, but Farrar is also a Medium. She's really in her element as goes about finding the warm and cold spots of the Civil War-era home. It's as if she's had a good bit of practice with regard to her routine. That's not to say she isn't a true Medium, just that her lines and mannerisms sound and look well rehearsed. Considering that she was previously versed in the home's history, any impressions she should be getting are tainted and biased with the information, and should be considered invalid.
Rock is setting us up for the big séance that follows. He shows us his own ghosts orbs that he claims to have caught on camera. Personally, I couldn't see them even after rewinding the dvd and sitting about a foot away from the screen. After my fifth try at catching a glimpse of the orbs, I give up. I'm pretty sure something along the lines of "this is f*cking retarded" crossed my lips. I'd realized that like most people who take ghost tours or watch the discovery channel programming on hauntings, that I'd fallen prey to my own "what if." The desire to see a ghost is always there and will remain until man dies off the planet completely. A ghost represents something greater than ourselves - that man is more then carbon-based flesh and bones. Yes, it would have been nice to see that orb, but I didn't so much as see a spec of dust float across the lens.
At this point, we're ready for the séance. Farrar gathers her group together and calls forth the spirits. Before we know it, one is possessed. This is where a better understanding of the technical side of moviemaking would have come in handy for Rock as I had no idea what was being said by the supposedly possessed woman. If not a better microphone, then perhaps subtitles. Anything to convince me, the viewer, that what was happening wasn't a load of bunk.
During the séance, it's interesting to note that Radford isn't present. A skeptic would have provided a nice counter to the events being depicted, especially when the group moves into the basement, the area in which the slaves were hidden. The women in the group are asked by Farrar to identify spots that "they don't like." Most pick cold spots, which in a draft, musty basement, with a gapping hole that leads to the slave's annex, would just about be 90% of the basement.
Like any documentarian, Rock presents a point of view. He's obviously a believer, but aside from his non-visable orb, and a woman claiming to be a medium, he presents no information to support his view on the supernatural. He succumbs to the very argument presented by Radford. In his closing remarks, which counter his attitude on-camera during the goings-on, Rock stats that it's impossible to validate the existence of the supernatural based on this one investigation and that he would leave any decisions up to the audience. From what I saw, the audience shouldn't have any problems forming a decision of their own since no evidence was provided one way or the other. It's not clear if Rock's closing words are meant in sarcasm, as he's obviously a believer and displays a genuine affection for everyone participating in the production.
As an extra, Rock provides some rare footage of a woman named Ellenor Bone speaking on behalf of Wicca in Hyde Park across from Buckingham Palace. The footage is silent so viewers only have Rock's lighthearted narration to go by. It isn't long before events move to Ellenor's home where she hosts a Wiccan ritual with about 10 other nude ladies (men who can't score might want to give the religion a try since most of the rituals appear to be done in the buff). Also included is footage of Alex Sanders, a practicing Wicca, throwing a dinner party that later culminates in Wiccan marriage and induction ceremonies...complete with nudity.