Review of Häxan (1922) by Peter H — 03 Nov 2010
Haxan: Witchcraft through the ages (1922): It was the most expensive silent Scandinavian film ever produced in the silent era of cinema. Haxan: Witchcraft through the ages a Swedish and Danish silent film is without a doubt a landmark in documentary filmmaking and even a land mark in horror cinema. The films bizarre, surreal, eerie and hypnotic feel creates one unnatural atmosphere for a said documentary. The film documents the belief of Witchcraft in the Middle Ages ranging from the superstitions of the era though to the Hysteria and paranoia associated with the fear of the devil.
The film is split into seven acts; the first act introduces the audiences to the belief of witchcraft in Western society, the second act theatrically recreates superstitions in the Middle Ages and the belief of witchcraft, then in the following four acts the movie jumps into a narrative set in the year 1488 about an old woman accused of committing an act of witchcraft by a dying man's family were the audience is shown some dark and nightmarish depictions of the devil. The final act ends in the early 1900's with the comparison that people that were old or suffer from mental illnesses would have been accused of witchcraft in the past.
Although Haxan is a ground breaking documentary, it's also a definite forerunner to the horror genre with the films nightmarish imagery and depiction of the Devil. On a note of trivia it should be noted in the first act of this film an illustration of an ancient depiction of the devil appears on screen for a brief instant. That exact same depiction devil is quite clearly seen in the form of a statute in the opening scenes of THE EXORCIST (1973) when one of the priests stands directly in front of it. Also the makers of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999) named their production company after this film.
My personal impression on Haxan: Witchcraft through the ages (1922): A brilliant silent horror film and documentary recommended to all fans of cinema. 100% anything less wouldn't do.
This review of Häxan (1922) was written by Peter H on 03 Nov 2010.
Häxan has generally received very positive reviews.
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