Alejandro Jodorowsky didn’t make his first film until he was in his 40s. He’d had an entire life filled with creative and spiritual endeavors before turning to film. With his first film, he caused a literal riot, and his work only got more controversial from there. From his work in the Panic Movement to his time with renowned mime Marcel Marceau, through his connections with figures as diverse as John Lennon and Claudio Argento, Jodorowsky’s story is filled with beauty and cruelty in equal measures.

In this series, we’ll explore the life and career of this divisive figure. We won’t shy away from the more problematic aspects of Jodorowsky the man and Jodorowsky the filmmaker, as we think they’re vital parts of the conversation surrounding his work .

With the release of the infamous EL TOPO, Jodorowsky was inadvertently responsible for the creation of the midnight movie, launching a movement that would bring cult classics like PINK FLAMINGOS, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, and ERASERHEAD to audiences who may not have seen them otherwise. Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Cinema of Cruelty is the first of several series that will explore the history of Midnight Movies and the filmmakers behind them.

See Also: Midnight Movies