Tribute to Classic Horror

[kungfuwaynewho]

Häxan is a Swedish/Danish silent film from 1922.  Part documentary, part narrative, it is a study of witchcraft throughout the ages, with the central thesis that witch hunts were nothing more than superstition and ignorance of mental illness.  Which is sort of interesting, considering the number of sequences lovingly devoted to showing the devil cavorting about, but hey, when you want to scare people...

This is a film that starts a little slow (the first 15 minutes are so are kind of like a filmed lecture), but the rest is fantastic.  Creepy, atmospheric, surprisingly graphic for the time.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Comments

[vjs2259.livejournal.com]

Nice coloring on the picspam. I read the wiki entry; which soundtrack did the version you watched have?

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

I actually didn't do any coloring - the film itself was tinted. I just brightened/contrasted the caps; standard clean-up.

It was the soundtrack made up of the pieces from the original premiere, though performed by an 11-piece ensemble instead of a full orchestra. I didn't recognize some of it, though "Danse Macabre" was in there. TBH, the music was a little bright and cheery for me - there were a few sequences where it was almost jarring alongside the images of torture and such - but I understand the Criterion Collection wanting authenticity above all else.