Long regarded as Jodorowsky’s modern masterpiece (preceded, of course, by cult favorites El Topo and The Holy Mountain), Santa Sangre takes us on a bizarre, provocative journey through the life of Fenix (Axel Jodorowsky), a circus performer with a twisted fate. Told with both flashback and flash-forward narratives, Jodorowsky manipulates time to show the psychological and physical reaping of a traumatic childhood incident. In tandem with this disturbing yet alluring plot, the film’s visuals are striking, psychedelic, and allow it to slightly subvert traditional horror tropes and aesthetics by giving it a more visceral appeal to both arthouse enthusiasts and Hollywood thrillseekers alike.

Santa Sangre
1989
dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky
123 mins.

Part of the ongoing series: Summer of Psychosis