When you think about Hollywood, images of red carpets, dazzling stars, and blockbuster films probably come to mind. But beyond the glitz and glamour, a shadowy world of occult practices and eerie encounters has lurked for decades.
Let’s dim the lights and pull back the curtain on ten stories where the occult made its presence known in the heart of Hollywood.
Director Richard Stanley Employed a Warlock
Ever heard of a film needing more than just a good script and funding to get off the ground? The 1996 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau had a famously troubled production. Director Richard Stanley, desperate to secure Marlon Brando for his film, turned to a warlock friend named Skip.
Skip and his coven performed a blood magic spell to ensure Brando’s casting. Lo and behold, Brando agreed! However, the story takes a dark turn: Stanley was fired, Skip contracted a flesh-eating parasite, and Stanley’s mother’s house was struck by lightning. Was it all just a series of unfortunate events, or was there something more sinister at play? [1]
Beyoncé Was Accused of Witchcraft in Court Documents
In 2018, Beyoncé faced some unusual accusations in court. Her former drummer, Kimberly Johnson, filed a restraining order, claiming Beyoncé used “extreme witchcraft” and “magic spells of sexual molestation.” Johnson alleged that Beyoncé tapped her phone, controlled her finances, and cast spells to keep her under control.
The court documents didn’t provide any clear motive, and the case was ultimately dismissed. Was it a case of a disgruntled employee, or was there some truth to these bewitching claims? [2]
Movie Sets Have Been Cursed Since Rosemary’s Baby
Many horror movie sets have tales of mishaps, deaths, and strange occurrences. The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby stand out with particularly chilling stories. The Exorcist had at least four deaths connected to the cast and crew, along with delays and injuries. Some moviegoers even blamed the film for causing physical harm.
Rosemary’s Baby, however, is considered by many to be the original cursed movie set. Composer Krzysztof Komeda died after a fall, John Lennon was murdered outside the building where the film was shot, and Sharon Tate, the director’s pregnant wife, was murdered by the Manson Family while the film was still in theaters. Producer William Castle also suffered severe health issues after filming. [3]
David Bowie Was Paranoid about Black Magic
During the 1970s, David Bowie’s reality was heavily distorted by cocaine addiction and a fascination with the occult. He became incredibly paranoid, believing one of his agents was a CIA operative, a vocalist was a vampire, and a coven of witches wanted to steal his semen for black magic.
Bowie feared that Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, who also had an interest in the occult, was plotting with these witches to conceive the Antichrist using Bowie’s seed. To protect himself, Bowie allegedly stored his urine in the refrigerator. Whether it was the cocaine or genuine fear, Bowie’s brush with the occult left a lasting mark. [4]
Led Zeppelin Became the Poster Children for the Occult
Led Zeppelin’s association with witchcraft and the occult has been around since the band was formed. Legends of Satan worship and hidden Satanic messages have swirled around the band, partly rooted in truth.
Their fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV, features tarot card imagery, and guitarist Jimmy Page was known to be a follower of occultist Aleister Crowley’s teachings. Even Dave Grohl shared a story about holding a seance at a makeshift altar to John Bonham when he was a teenager. [5]
Megadeth Provided Instructions for Hexes
The heavy metal band Megadeth stopped performing their song “The Conjuring” for 17 years because it included explicit instructions for casting hexes.
Frontman Dave Mustaine believed that his experimentation with magic and the occult as a teenager was the cause of negative events in his life. The song’s lyrics detailed steps for performing hexes, and Mustaine preferred not to revisit that realm. The lyrics were so potent that the band changed their setlist for nearly two decades. [6]
Movies and TV Shows Hire Actual Witches
To ensure authenticity, some movie and TV shows involving witchcraft or the occult hire actual practitioners as consultants.
When making The Craft, producers hired Pat Devin, a Dianic Elder Priestess, to advise on the script and filming. Devin ensured that the events were realistic and the spells cast were “safe.” Similarly, Dylan Bauer consulted on Mayfair Witches, providing incantations, herbs, and methodologies to achieve beautiful and harmonious results. [7]
Practical Magic Was Nearly Cursed
In a twist of irony, the witch hired as a consultant for the film Practical Magic allegedly cursed the film. Director Griffin Dunne revealed that the consultant demanded more money and, when refused, left a voicemail declaring she would place a curse on them.
The film was initially considered a flop upon its release. Everyone was so spooked that they decided to pay her off to prevent further havoc. Dunne even spent $100 on an exorcism, just in case. The film has since become a beloved cult classic, but the initial curse remains a curious part of its history. [8]
Matt Skiba Magically Doomed the Fyre Festival
Blink-182 member Matt Skiba claimed responsibility for the failure of the infamous Fyre Festival. Skiba, identifying as a pagan and witch, said he used his “witchy ways” to prevent the event from happening.
He denounced the event as classist and racist, and put “all the electricity and energy in [his] body against that thing happening.” Whether it was Skiba’s magic or just sheer bad luck, the Fyre Festival ended in disaster, with bands backing out, attendees stranded, and founders charged with fraud. [9]
Vampira “Hexed” James Dean
In the 1950s, Maila Nurmi, known as Vampira, captivated Hollywood with her macabre television show. She and James Dean shared occult interests, becoming close enough to be linked by the press.
Nurmi worried about Dean’s safety due to his passion for racing, so she built an altar for his protection. After Dean’s death in a car crash seven months later, Whisper magazine accused Vampira of plotting his death as revenge for unrequited love. In response, she showed up at a party dressed as a witch with a bandaged James Dean, leaving attendees aghast and cementing her scandalous reputation. [10]
From directors seeking supernatural help to musicians battling inner demons and cursed film sets, Hollywood’s history is filled with eerie tales of the occult. These stories remind us that beyond the glitz and glamour, there’s a mysterious world where the veil between reality and the supernatural blurs.
Which of these stories sends the biggest shivers down your spine? Leave your comments below!
