New cult film directed by LEZ’s Joseph Delaney for his subversive zine SORT follows the rise and fall of an imaginary cult. Written and narrated by Rose McGowan, who herself was raised in a cult, the viewer is given an inside look at the hedonism, communalism and isolation of Delaney’s fictional sect.
His aim is to show that this societies heteronormativity and homogeneity, and shaming of all that isn't narrowly considered ‘normal’ is a constraint to freedom of expression rendering normative society a cult. The result is a dark, stylised and subversive video laced with nudity, underground fetish clubs, submission and domination.
Joseph himself is part of an interesting sub culture emerging which crosses music, politics and fashion. The film is fresh, a sinister beauty which has incredible strength. Driven by the intense and dark sound design the film encapsulates Joseph’s abstract vision of the world that challenges mainstream societies oppression of identity - a concept more frightening than a cult. In the words of Joseph:
‘The narrative around the global political situation is reading more and more like the retelling of some cult-like dystopian world, so maybe it's time to hijack that narrative.’
