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The Holy Mountain

Play trailer Poster for The Holy Mountain R Released Nov 29, 1973 2h 6m Fantasy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A Mexican master (Alexandro Jodorowsky) leads a Christ figure (Horacio Salinas) and other disciples to a mountain of immortal wise men.

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The Holy Mountain

The Holy Mountain

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Critics Consensus

A visual treat rich in symbolism, The Holy Mountain adds another defiantly idiosyncratic chapter to Jodorowsky's thoroughly unique filmography.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian Hardly a moment passes in this movie without a situationist display of outrageousness; it is a dream tableau of the weird and occasionally wonderful. Rated: 4/5 Jan 24, 2020 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness A rambling stream-of-consciousness quest that - in its final, self-conscious act - celebrates the primacy of the filmed image. Rated: B+ Jun 8, 2011 Full Review David Fear Time Out Not even Buuel with a brainful of Woodstock's bad brown acid could have made something this gloriously screwy. Rated: 3/6 Apr 21, 2007 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills One of the greatest films of the Sixties... Nov 30, 2023 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Of all the Alejandro Jodorowsky films, this may be the Jodorowskiest. Rated: B+ Nov 29, 2022 Full Review Manuela Lazic WeLoveCinema What The Holy Mountain depicts, rather than a narrative, is a series of tests and learning experiences that the fool will go through in order to attain enlightenment. Rated: 5/5 Mar 19, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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random u The holy mountain is not a normal movie. I found it very different from movies that I have watched. I wouldn’t know how to describe this movie to someone that hasn’t watched it because it’s a crazy experience. You really have to watch it to understand all the weird scenes and visuals this movie has to offer. This movie is really similar to other movies by Jodorowsky. There were a lot of moments in this movie that had me very confused and lost. This movie is a surreal experience and I don’t think I’d watch this movie again because it’s completely different to what I like watching. If you like watching movies that are different or weird or both then I’d say this movie is for you. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/17/25 Full Review Isabel L Watching The Holy Mountain felt like stepping into a surreal dream I couldn’t wake up from, and I mean that in both a good and exhausting way. It’s visually stunning, filled with bizarre religious imagery, symbolic nudity, and scenes that made me uncomfortable, fascinated, and occasionally laugh out loud in confusion. The plot is more of a spiritual journey than a narrative, following a Christ-like figure and a group of elites seeking immortality. At times it felt like satire, other times like a visual riddle I wasn’t smart enough to solve. It’s definitely not for everyone, if you need a clear storyline or dislike experimental art, you’ll probably hate it. But if you're open to weird, philosophical cinema, it’s worth the ride. Just... maybe don’t watch it alone. Or sober. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/16/25 Full Review Aldo T The movie The Holy Mountain (1973) directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky 16300 is not a film like any other,it is a film for those who are into films and appreciate the art of filmmaking. The film is known for its ambitious production. The film starts with silence, portrayed on screen as a ritual. The movie consists of multiple events. During this movie, a thief encounters an Alchemist who takes him along for a spiritual awakening. The film ends with a plot twist where the main characters reach a summit and discover there are no human beings. The moral of the story is true enlightenment happens not when you escape the world but rather when you go through it with an open mind and open eyes. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Alex N I was scared going into the movie looking at the thumbnail, and after the movie I was more disturbed than scared. I did not like how the movie made me feel, it was trippy, the symbolism was too much for me, and the whole film was just weird. It felt like there wasn't even a plot, rather just a bunch of visuals put together. However, I do admit that the visuals are cool and creative, but it's hard to follow. It was hard for me to sit through and watch the whole film and stay engaged. Most of the time I wished the film ended so I can go do something else. Overall I give the film a 1.5 out of 5, and that's being generous because the visuals were impressive. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Audience Member Watching The Holy Mountain was not an enjoyable experience for me. What I've noticed in Jodorowsky's films is that he likes to put everything laid out on the screen for you to look at, but never a real deeper meaning that goes along with the plot, if there even is one. It's a lot of tell, not show, which is ironic considering the lack of speech in this movie, and that's something you don't need, especially when you're relying on imagery to showcase your story. I can immediately understand all the symbolism that he tries to show, but it's done rather distastefully. There are so many unnecessary graphic scenes to the point it felt like it was just being used for shock value, again with no real meaning. People say that this movie gets you thinking, and yeah, it sure does make me think about how I wasted my time watching it. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Joshua H Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain (1973) is a very surreal and thought-provoking film that really looks into deep into themes such as religion, power, materialism, and the search for enlightenment. The story shows a mysterious man who resembles Jesus and is guided by an alchemist. I feel that the gathering of the seven individuals that each represented a different planet and aspect of society, such as war, greed, and vanity was a very clever idea. The spiritual journey they set out on a to the Holy Mountain was one that was fun to follow and watch, but at times I feel the film was confusing to follow. The film is filled with strange and symbolic imagery that can be confusing but also powerful. It doesn’t follow a typical storyline, and the ending breaks the fourth wall, making you question the nature of reality. It’s a weird but unforgettable movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Holy Mountain

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Movie Info

Synopsis A Mexican master (Alexandro Jodorowsky) leads a Christ figure (Horacio Salinas) and other disciples to a mountain of immortal wise men.
Director
Alejandro Jodorowsky
Producer
Roberto Viskin
Screenwriter
Alejandro Jodorowsky
Distributor
ABKCO Films Inc.
Production Co
ABKCO Films Inc., Producciones Zohar
Rating
R
Genre
Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 29, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.0K
Runtime
2h 6m
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