Review of Hour of the Wolf (1968) by Daniel C — 07 Feb 2009

This one is really unsettling. bergman seems to effortlessly establish the fact that the couple are on the island alone, without ever saying so. so when other people start appearing, it feels like a horror film, even though there's no monster makeup or blood or other typical things.

strange camera movements and odd approaches to a character's face tell us these extra people are unnatural and harmful. the scene where the castle owner walks up a wall and onto the ceiling actually made me gasp bc it's so unexpected.

we're made to think this is a vampire film, but without vampires or bats. just figments of this artist's imagination.