Reasons to watch the scariest films you’ve never seen

Rabbit’s Moon
(Kenneth Anger, 1950)

You know the work of Kenneth Anger, author of the notorious gossip bible Hollywood Babylon, even if you don’t know his films. From the slow pans of leather clad motorcyclists in his underground classic Scorpio Rising to the haunted cackling of a pampered recluse in his elegantly eerie Puce Moment, Anger’s films have been “quoted” by everyone from Martin Scorsese to David Lynch. In his enchanting Rabbit’s Moon he offers a lonely pantomime in the tradition of the commedia dell’arte about the pain of a clown who falls in love with the moon. The doomed fool tries to charm the ballerina bunny who resides within its lunar world, but his efforts are scoffed at, as she has a more eligible suitor — Lucifer in the form of a Harlequin — who can get her better presents. There are two versions of this beautiful film, and they both have their charms. But, for the purpose of Hollow’s Eve, watch the 16-minute one that includes that post-punk Raincoats song “It Came in the Night.” For full effect, watch it about five times in a row.

At any rate, at least know that this Halloween you don’t have to pretend to enjoy the Rocky Horror Picture Show when it gets played on VH1. •