Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages) - Criterion Collection
by Benjamin Christensen
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DVD details
Actor: Benjamin Christensen, Clara Pontoppidan, Elisabeth Christensen, Elith Pio, Maren PedersenDirector: Benjamin Christensen
Brand: CHRISTENSEN,BENJAMIN
Writer: Benjamin Christensen
Cinematographer: Johan Ankerstjerne
Editor: Edla Hansen
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Swedish (Original Language); English (Subtitled); Swedish (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Silent, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-10-16
Studio: Criterion Collection, The
DVD Reviews of Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages) - Criterion Collection
DVD Review: WHEN I LOOK OUR MY WINDOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK I SEE?
Summary: 5 Stars
H?xan is an excellent 1922 silent film that depicted the practice of religion and witchcraft during the Middle Ages. In this movie, superstitious characters created unrest in what were once peaceful, European dwellings. Whenever plagues spread throughout communities or lustful temptations occurred within the clergy of a synagogue, a scapegoat would have to shoulder the blame for society's ills. The alleged perpetrator could be identified and found guilty on the basis of physical appearance. If the individual were deformed, then he/she could be deemed as the devil in the flesh; if, on the other hand, the defendant was an attractive woman whose beauty was captivating, then chances were, she would be branded a witch who enticed the sexual imaginings of many a young man.
With an effective cast who could act out the paranoid mindset that was swelling and spreading, H?xan had and still has the ability to lead viewers into witnessing some darker realms of humanity that were under the guise of spirituality. The emotion of fear, in conjunction with superstitions regarding a village's misfortunes, would prevail throughout this movie. As it would often fall in line with the edicts of those in power, namely the clerics, and as it would secure the standings of those already at the top, fear, as it would be experienced among laypersons and lower-ranking pastorates, overruled logic.
It can be argued that H?xan was a creative exposition to the adage that wrong people in power, if given the opportunity, will try to control the minds of others by keeping them poor, blind, scared and stupid. H?xan is based on a premise that a collective mindset built upon rumor, superstition and hate is highly dangerous.
Though this movie is nearly ninety years old, H?xan does have its fascinating, visual effects that were perhaps way ahead of their time. Portions of the movie depicted those deemed as the outsiders, that is to say, the pagans or devil worshippers who performed rituals that consisted of costumes, masks, and fire altars with some similarities to the pagan festivities in the 1973 movie, The Wicker Man. And it is within these ceremonial scenes that the stunning, technical aspects of the film arise.
The viewer is transported right away into a different dimension, where it is not clear if it is supposed to be an outer, spiritual world that exists or the enactment of what was in the mind's eye of the superstitious. Nonetheless, the presence of ghostlike figures and demons helped to create as stunning a heaven-or-hell dilemma as what one could possibly hope for from this film. The trick photography for enhancing the awesome spectral appearances leaves little doubt that ten years later, Carl Theodor Dreyer's use of ectoplasmic imagery in his 1932 film, Vampyr, was inspired by the viewing of H?xan.
All in all, this classic is, to say the least, a quintessential two-for-one. It is a perfect docudrama in the history of human behavior, and it is the perfect expositor of the genius of Benjamin Christensen, the movie's writer and director.
DVD Review: A very contemporary treatment
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite the fact that this movie was made in 1922, its treatment of witchcraft through the ages is remarkably enlightened and contemporary.
In two versions -- the original and a modern redub from 1967 -- this movie tells the story of witchcraft through the ages from its unquestioned acceptance by the ancients to a more enlightened and modern view that the supposed signs of the witch are just undiagnosed mental disorders.
While if this movie was redone today an additional vignette on thought contagion and suggestability might well be in order, it bears noting that nothing about the existing movie -- including its silent format -- would require a single change.
That's because when all is said and done this movie says that the scariest thing about witchcraft was never its supposed practitioners but rather those individuals who shamelessly tried to use the fears of others to enrich themselves at the expense of the innocent.
In other words, this movie had the courage to both ask and answer the question of where the real witches could be found.
DVD Review: H?xan
Summary: 4 Stars
THough this movie is 80+ year old it is one of the best protrayals of witches I've seen. The acting is really quite corny, but how the events are shown is pretty uch in tune with what historians agree actually happened. Witches are not normally the sexy seductress, but instead were the ugly crones who have no way to defend themselves. The inquisition stepped in to help bring about confessions, and without basic civil legal rights, the condemned was usually convicted through confessions.
This movie shows the whole gamut of events. The sick child, the succubus, the trials, the temptations, and the trials. There are no real special effects, but it kind of amazes me that no other film has attempted to cover this same subject as this film does. It's a rare find, but worth the time spent watching it.
DVD Review: A study of ignorance.
Summary: 5 Stars
You've got to be kidding me, this movie is [.......] amazing! Haxan is a silent mockumentary film from 1922 about witchcraft and superstition. It plays out almost as an educational film about the history of witchcraft, but it's more like a satire on the idiocy of the human race in general. I was so entertained and involed with what was going on I forgot this was a silent film at all. 86 year's later it's still finding it's followers (me) and is much better than anything to come out recently. Stop motion animation, nudity, and reverse footage in the 1920's?!?! Not to mention grave robbing and other distasteful event's. Worth every penny!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!DVD Review: Creepy & Very Entertaining
Summary: 5 Stars
I've always enjoyed B&W movies, but was never much into silent films until a couple of years ago. Some of them are really amazing in terms of plot & sexuality. The Silent Era was fortunately before the censorship of the late 30's that dictated things like bra size & how close actors could be with each other when doing a kissing (and no French, please!) The TMC channel recently hosted a night of silents that featured "Gay Actors." It was a scream. I don't know how many people out there in Cyperland remember Zazu Pitts (perfect name!), but her silent shorts (as in film length, not leg wear) are really funny and perfectly performed. Anyway, I had seen little snippets of H?xan used to illustrate documentaries, but only ten seconds or so--and while doing my own research on witchcraft (doesn't everybody?), decided it was time to take a longer look.
At first the introductory segment is reminiscent of phys-ed "just say no to premarital sex" films. However, in H?xan the format is a deliberate & sophisticated seeting up of what follows. I say "sophisticated" because the movie works with the subject on different levels and dimensions. Sometimes you can't even believe what you are seeing!
The ways the film weaves various themes reminded me of "Intolerance" by (racist) American director D.W. Griffith; but I think H?xan presents an even more fully integrated multilayered storyline. Another interesting feature is the use of sepia (reddish brown) tinting, to give an even more documentary and realistic effect. The added background music fits perfectly; often an effective counterpoint to the action.
The acting too is very believeable, very realistic for the time. In fact, it would be considered suplerative even today. Religious and social prejudices are broadly & authentically lampooned in images so realistic that sometimes watching the movie is like looking through a peek hole in time.
Anyone interested in film history and/or the occultism/horror must see H?xan.
[NOTE 12/08: I just saw the new price for this DVD and it is totally outrageous. At this price deduct at least 3 of my precious stars. Rent it or forget it.]
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Description of Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages) - Criterion Collection
Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Benjamin Christensen's legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the middle ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. But the film itself is far from serious-instead it's a witches' brew of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous. The Criterion Collection is proud to present two versions of this genre-defying "documentary," for the first time ever on DVD.Witchcraft through the ages is explored with dark wit in this silent classic. Writer-director Benjamin Christensen uses a historical study of witchcraft as a jumping-off point for a fascinating film that is part science, part horror, and part social commentary. This Criterion edition uses a beautiful print, a rearrangement of music from the original Danish premiere, and the original Swedish intertitles (with subtitles). Goodies include commentary by Danish film scholar Casper Tybjerg, the option of watching a narrated version without intertitles, and test shots from the film. The test shots, in particular, give insight into the early filmmaking process, as when Christensen uses his own image to try out (and reject) a flying effect. This is a worthy edition to the collection of fans of horror films, silent films, and film in general. --Ali Davis
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