Review of Häxan (1922) by Philip L — 01 Jun 2010
Based partly on the Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer Of Witches, a sort of guide to witch hunting.) this 1922 silent film directed by Danish filmmaker Benjamin Christensen is part documentary and part dramatization which focuses on how superstition and the misunderstanding of mental illness could have lead to the hysteria of the witch hunts.
Christensen does an amazing job with the imagery which includes: grave robbing, midevil torture devices used on accused witches, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath among others. Throughout the grotesque and dark subject matter (as I stated before is captured beautifully) lies a fare amount of black humor which really makes the film a truly great and bizarre watch.
A must see for anyone interested in the history of witchcraft and witch hunting, or anyone who wants to experience something new. And for a film that's almost 90 years old it's still as original and shocking as when it was first released I'm sure.
This review of Häxan (1922) was written by Philip L on 01 Jun 2010.
Häxan has generally received very positive reviews.
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