A Spooky Movie That Might Have Inspired a Religious Movement

In the swinging '60s, horror films like 'Psycho' and 'The Birds' were hitting the big screen. But one movie that stood out was based on an Edgar Allan Poe tale, directed by Roger Corman. This film, 'The Masque of the Red Death', wasn't your average scary movie. It had a twist that even made some religious groups squirm. The story is about a prince named Prospero who hides in his castle while a deadly disease, the 'Red Death', spreads outside. In the movie, Prospero isn't just a rich guy hiding out. He's a Satanist who thinks God is dead, and it's every man for himself. This film by American International Pictures had some deep stuff, like philosophical chats and Satanic actions.

Two years after the movie was released, something interesting happened. Anton LaVey started the Church of Satan in real life. Coincidence? Maybe. But both Prospero's Satanism and LaVey's were all about doing what you want. The main difference was that Prospero believed the devil was real, while LaVey saw him more as a symbol. Director Corman once said he liked how Prospero became his own god, thinking he could do whatever he wanted. He saw echoes of the '60s counterculture in the film too, with people rebelling against authority. The film kicked up a fuss when it came out, facing censorship for blasphemy and nudity. But now, with the pandemic, people are watching it again. Whether you're a horror fan or just curious, 'The Masque of the Red Death' is a must-watch come October.

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