The top psychedelic documentaries and short films that are worth your time
The difference between being opinionated and being informed is that the knowledge you hold over a specific subject.
When it involves psychedelics, most people tend to ascertain such experiences from a personal perspective, judging the consequences supported their individual subjective opinions. Except for some, greater meaning and understanding can cause a search for discovery, ensuring more profound experiences and events.
In this spirit, we’ve compiled an inventory of the highest Ten Must-Watch documentaries and short films that tackle the cultural, historical, and scientific facets of the psychedelic movement and explore many of the phenomena that led to the present unique bond between humans and psychedelic substances. Read On!
1. JOURNEYS TO the sting OF CONSCIOUSNESS (2019)
This documentary features part-animated/part-conversational discourse on the character of psychedelic experiences, beginning from three genre-defining moments within the 50s and 60s, resulting in the analysis of their effects within the present cultural scenario.
The documentary features twelve prominent personalities who have dedicated their lives to studying psychedelic experiences and deliver a wide-ranging explanation and commentary on many aspects.
2. DIRTY PICTURES (2010)
This short film features the life and work of the “Father of Psychedelics,” Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin. The film explores the circumstances that led to Shulgin’s experimentation with psychedelics. Therefore, the motivation led him to devote his life to studying psychedelic substances and their related experiences.
3. THE SUNSHINE MAKERS (2015)
This documentary follows the story of Nicholas Sand and Tim Scully, considered the pioneers of the 1950s LSD culture.
The documentary explores experiences that generate the substance’s discovery and explains the motivation that inspired the duo to further their experimentation with the notorious substance in their youth. The documentary also offers an insider’s perspective on the counter-culture of the 1950s and 1960s that inspired the underground psychedelic movements we see today.
4. THE SUBSTANCE: ALBERT HOFMANN’S LSD (2011)
This documentary is certainly well worth the watch. It follows the story of Albert Hofmann, the scientist known worldwide for his discovery of LSD, the immensely powerful psychedelic substance we are all conversant in today.
The documentary catalogs his own experiences with the substance. It explores the cultural scene of the 1950s, the historical aspects, and therefore the deception of a government on the brink of war, and the way all this revolves around one single powerful psychedelic — LSD.
5. FANTASTIC FUNGI (2019)
FANTASTIC FUNGI is one of the more scientific documentaries on our list. The feature-length documentary offers stunning time-lapse visuals, detailing how different fungi grow and how they came to populate the earth.
The documentary takes on the evolutionary aspects of fungi and how they became an important part of human culture and society within the past and present.
6. DOSED (2019)
A personal narrative that follows the experiences of Adrianne, a lady who is suffering from suicidal thoughts, extreme anxiety, and crippling depression.
The documentary chronicles her journey through the underground psychedelic movement. She experiments with various substances to seek out a cure for her ailments and finishes up finding more profound insight into herself within the process.
7. PSYCHED OUT (2018)
The PSYCHED OUT documentary may be a must-watch for those that want to create a beginner understanding of all the various sorts of psychedelic substances out there.
The documentary focuses totally on plant-based psychedelics and ethnomedicine, which has become a worldwide culture neighborhood through time. It also lays the groundwork for more in-depth exploration by providing an intuitive discourse on the various sorts of psychedelics and how different cultures worldwide perceive their importance.
8. NEURONS TO NIRVANA (2013)
This aesthetically made documentary focuses on the prevailing knowledge domain we’ve collected on the topic of psychedelic experiences, substances, and the way these are tied to human culture.
The film explores the tight-knit connections humans have created with psychedelic substances and provides insight into how these experiences have helped shape the course of history, art, and society over time.
9. SCIENCE OF PSILOCYBIN (2015)
This docu-film offers a singular perspective on psychedelic mushrooms’ applications for the facilitation of more profound experiences in life.
The film focuses on how Psilocybin can provide symptomatic relief and mental stimulation to terminally ill patients and their effect on their feelings, understanding, and acceptance of their state.
10. AYA: AWAKENINGS (2013)
This documentary follows the journey of a journalist and adventurer. He penetrates the depths of the Amazon forest in search of a mysterious plant employed by shamans and tribes of the Amazon to induce highly spiritual psychedelic experiences.
The journalist finishes up finding quite he bargained for and has an experience that changes his understanding of life and, therefore, the universe forever.
CONCLUSION
We have tried to incorporate most of the critically acclaimed titles on this list. If you recognize a title that you would like others to observe, please mention them within the comments below, and we’ll add it to the list.
Happy Exploring!
