Review of Häxan (1922) by Brandon S — 14 Oct 2009

So this is more of a documentary than a actual horror film. But this is an amazing documentary done by a great director, Benjamin Christensen. The film shows us a history of witchcraft from the middle ages. We see all sorts of imagery here including Satan, Jesus, women being burned at the stake, women being drowned, etc. But the best of all is the way that the director puts across the subject. I believe that this just might be one of the earliest documentary works.

The film is in a couple parts starting with a usual documentary. It shows pictures from books about witches in the Middle ages. Then the film sort of goes on a Mocumentary type angle, showing different circumstances that "Witches" would be in. For example, there is a woman that is lured away from her sleeping husband to have relations with Satan played by Christensen himself. A Story where a woman who is in love with a friar wants to put a little potion in his wine.

The movie is a fine example of what could be accomplished with fine film making, even back in the silent era. I hear there is a version out there with William Burroughs doing the narration, that's one that I want to find. I really enjoyed most of this movie, although parts did drag out and it is very, very, long. It certainty didn't follow the hour and a half horror movie length. I did get bored with parts and some parts were rather dry.

I would have to give this movie a 6/10 just for being so dry. If you want to see it, look on the link on the top of my page there is a link to YouTube and the first part will be on there, the second will be included with the video. Also, this film was released in a Criterion Collection on DVD so you can pick it up that way as well.

Eye of neut.

Sid.