Psychedelic film

Psychedelic film is a film genre characterized by the influence of psychedelia and the experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic films typically contain visual distortion and experimental narratives, often emphasizing psychedelic imagery. They might reference drugs directly, or merely present a distorted reality resembling the effects of psychedelic drugs. Their experimental narratives often purposefully try to distort the viewers' understanding of reality or normality.^[1][2]

Subgenres

• The Acid Western was a style of Western popular in the 1960s and 1970s that use psychedelic imagery or allusions.^[3]
• The psychological drama is a drama subgenre with psychological elements that features psychedelic imagery in some films.
• The Stoner film is a comedy subgenre that revolves around the recreational use of cannabis.^[4]

Film examples

• Un Chien Andalou, 1929^[5]
• Alice in Wonderland, 1951
• Looking for Toxin X, 1962
• X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes, 1963
• Daisies, 1966^[5]
• Fantastic Voyage, 1966
• The Mind-Benders: LSD and the Hallucinogens, 1967
• Casino Royale, 1967
• Magical Mystery Tour (film), 1967
• Doctor Faustus, 1967
• 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968^[5]
• Jigsaw , 1968
• Barbarella, 1968
• Curse of the Crimson Altar, 1968
• Project X, 1968
• Zeta One, 1969
• Case Study: LSD, 1969
• Savage Intruder, 1970
• Blood Mania, 1970
• The Dunwich Horror, 1970
• Zabriskie Point, 1970
• Performance, 1970
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 1971
• Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 1971
• A Clockwork Orange, 1971
• The Devils, 1971^[5]
• Behind the Green Door, 1972^[5]
• Necromancy, 1972
• The Devil, 1972^[5]
• Heavy Traffic, 1973
• The Holy Mountain, 1973
• Fantastic Planet, 1973^[5]
• Zardoz, 1974
• Tommy, 1975
• Allegro Non Troppo, 1976
• The Man Who Fell to Earth, 1976
• 3 Women, 1977^[5]
• Hausu, 1977
• Suspiria, 1977^[5]
• Altered States, 1980
• Son of the White Mare, 1981^[5]
• Pink Floyd – The Wall, 1982
• Dune, 1984
• Come and See, 1985^[5]
• Night on the Galactic Railroad, 1985
• Natural Born Killers, 1994
• Dead Man, 1995^[5]
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 1998
• Requiem for a Dream, 2000^[5]
• Waking Life, 2001
• Paprika, 2006
• Enter the Void, 2009
• Beyond the Black Rainbow, 2010
• Generation P, 2011
• A Field in England, 2013^[5]
• Under the Skin, 2013
• Upstream Color, 2013
• Doctor Strange, 2016
• The Love Witch, 2016
• Woodshock, 2017
• Annihilation, 2018
• Climax, 2018
• Mandy, 2018
• Midsommar, 2019
• Color Out of Space, 2019
• Lux Aeterna, 2019
• Friend of the World, 2020^[6]
• Last Night in Soho, 2021
• Churuli, 2021
• Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2022
• Infinity Pool, 2023

Psychedelic counterculture era films include:

• Riot on Sunset Strip, 1967
• LSD Flesh of Devil, 1967
• The Love-Ins, 1967
• The Trip, 1967
• Magical Mystery Tour, 1967
• Something Weird, 1967
• The Acid Eaters, 1967
• Head, 1968
• Psych-Out, 1968
• The Girl on a Motorcycle, 1968
• Candy, 1968
• Revolution, 1968
• Wonderwall, 1968
• Yellow Submarine, 1968^[7]
• Wild in the Streets, 1968
• I Love You, Alice B. Toklas, 1968
• Skidoo, 1968
• Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, 1968
• Les Idoles, 1968
• Easy Rider, 1969
• Angel, Angel, Down We Go, 1969
• The Big Cube, 1969
• Scream Free, 1969
• Eggshells, 1969
• Zabriskie Point, 1970^[5]
• Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, 1970
• Woodstock, 1970
• El Topo, 1970
• Toomorrow, 1970
• Gas-s-s-s, 1970
• 200 Motels, 1971
• Fritz the Cat, 1972
• The Holy Mountain, 1973

Television show examples

• The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (1968–1970)
• H.R. Pufnstuf (1969–1970)
• Aeon Flux (1991–1995)
• The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991–1996)
• The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (1995–1997)
• Downtown (1999)
• SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present)
• Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000–2015)
• The Mighty Boosh (2003–2007)
• 12 oz. Mouse (2005–2006)
• Xavier: Renegade Angel (2007–2009)
• Superjail! (2007–2014)
• Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007–2017)
• Adventure Time (2010–2018)
• Regular Show (2010–2017)
• The Amazing World of Gumball (2011–2019)
• Off the Air (2011–present)
• Uncle Grandpa (2013–2017)
• Rick and Morty (2013–present)
• Animals (2016–2018)
• The Midnight Gospel (2020)
• Bee and PuppyCat (2022–present)
• Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (2022–present)

See also

• Stoner film
• Surrealist cinema
• Psychedelic art
• Psychedelic literature
• Psychedelic music
• List of films featuring hallucinogens

References

1. "25 Great Psychedelic Movies That Are Worth Your Time". Taste Of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists. 2 February 2015.
2. "The 100 best animated movies: the best psychedelic movies". Time Out New York. 8 December 2021.
3. Rosenbaum, Jonathan (1996-06-26). "Acid Western: Dead Man". Chicago Reader.
4. Meltzer, Marisa (2007-06-26). "The eternal appeal of the stoner movie". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
5. tasteofcinema (24 August 2019). "25 Great Psychedelic Movies That Are Worth Your Time". tasteofcinema.
6. Melissa Hannon (31 July 2021). "Review: 'Friend of the World' (2020) is a Bizarre Apocalyptic Film". Horror Geek Life.
7. Complex Mag (5 March 2010). "What A Trip! The Greatest Psychedelic Movies of All Time". Complex.