Haxan 1922

[spookysprite]

if you have never seen,or heard of this movie,please try and get it.it is truly the greatest halloween film ever made.it was directed by scandinavian benjamin christensen.every image of witchcraft,from old hag women,demons with horns,mixing spells,dancing at covens and flying through the air at night on broomsticks,is all in this film.surprisingly,there is also a lot of nudity for a 1922 film.the make up and special effects,all seem to be copied from all those old pictures and woodcuts of witchcraft,from medieval times.try not to get the 1968 release of haxan,as that version is heavily cut.i will post a few links so you can check it out,along with a few screenshots.
http://www.monsterzine.com/200210/haxan.php

http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0013257/us ... s?start=10

http://www.beyondhollywood.com/haxan-wi ... vd-review/

the film,is basically a documentary of witchcraft through the ages.I have seen this,and i think it is an incredible film,especially since it was made in 1922.i can see how modern film makers have tried to copy it in a lot of ways,but cannot get that old,dark,mysterious effect,that haxan has managed to have.it is a silent film,with the original soundtrack.I would not immediately show it to your children,as the sight of old and young women,kissing satans buttocks,kneeling and peeing in bowls etc,may make them squirm and feel uncomfortable.perhaps the cut 1968 version has those parts cut out,i am not sure.
Has anyone else seen this unique film? what do you think of it?

[Cadaverino]

I have seen it (at least, the 1968 edit). It is a genuinely disturbing silent movie that is unlike any other. You're right about how the director makes scenes resemble old engravings or paintings.

If you liked Haxan, I recommend these other silent movies with a nightmare atmosphere: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Fall of the House of Usher (directed by Jean Epstein); and the nearly silent Vampyr (1932).