Review Fantaspoa 2021: HISTORY OF THE OCCULT – Lovely, Weird Argentina

Marcos Codas   |  

Apr 28, 2021

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Our coverage of Fantaspoa 2021 continues, as we review History of the Occult. And what a history it is! Weird, trippy, and lovely. I haven’t seen something quite like this before. Or at least, not in a long, long time. So join me as I discuss what makes this black-and-white, noir-inspired trip fun, exhilarating, and well worth a watch.

One of my favorite things about Fantaspoa and festivals like it, is the curatorial process inherent in each event. You can usually have an idea of what each festival’s program will be like. Our friends at Horrible Imaginings, for example, focus on showcasing a wide gamut of films, with emphasis on community building. Fantaspoa, on the other hand, is about pushing envelopes. It’s about doing a lot with not too much. Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is a perfect example of that: a one-shot time travel indie feature. History of the Occult is in a similar boat. You are aware of its limitations, yes. But you also marvel at how it maximizes absolutely everything within those limitations.

What the Film Is All About

Telling the story of a TV crew looking to uncover a government conspiracy, History of the Occult is unashamedly retro. Or perhaps, old school is a better term. Filmed almost entirely in black and white and a 4:3 aspect ratio, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a decades-old piece of celluloid. Add to this the decidedly Expressionist approach to photography, and you get a modern noir classic in the making.

The plot is fantastic, and despite the almost single-setting constraints, manages to move along rapidly, without ever feeling convoluted or rushed. No small feat, for sure. History of the Occult also features fantastic performances, further enhanced by the mix of retro equipment and XXI Century post-processing. Finally, the synth soundtrack with occasional percussive cues was a cherry on the trippy cake.

The Magic of History of the Occult Continues

I have to be honest: the film doesn’t actually tell much of history, per se. But it does deal with the occult. And it does so magnificently: magic, multiple dimensions, covens and warlocks. It also covers the use of psychotropic drugs to “enhance the mind”. Again, this is very noir. Who here remembers the CIA’s nefarious MKUltra experiments?

Director Cristian Ponce’s final masterstroke is to be able to make a film like this at all. Or rather, make this film without it ending up being silly. Corporate conspiracies? Interdimensional beings? On paper, it shouldn’t work nearly as well as it does. It’s not perfect: the plot is sometimes hard to follow. A couple of the costume choices are a bit questionable.

But overall, History of the Occult is a loveletter to horror and science fiction cinema. It deals with many tropes without feeling cliché. From a technical point of view, the film is a triumph of skill over limitations. And if I were you, I’d waste no time in seeking this out. You’d be glad you did.