Kenneth Anger’s “Kustom Kar Kommandos,” 1965
Making films since 1947, Anger is considered internationally as a pioneering and influential force in avant-garde cinema. So, if you are at all interested the aesthetics of Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive,” or the aesthetics of any David Lynch movie ever, not to mention those of Martin Scorsese, Gus Van Sant, Guy Maddin, etc… then you have Kenneth Anger to thank.
Kenneth Anger’s work constitutes a radical critique of Hollywood, often evoking and referencing pop icons within occult settings and depicting youth counterculture in the midst of violence and eroticism. Anger does not use a narrative-based style, but rather lyrically explores themes of ritualistic transformation and transfiguration. His films are imbued with a baroque splendor stemming from the heightened sensuality of his opulent colors and imagery. They are often accompanied by a haunting soundtrack, composed by renowned musicians such as Mick Jagger and Bobby Beausoleil
