Fresh and Exciting

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

This truly singular and fascinating quasi-documentary centers on the harsh persecution of women who were found guilty of committing sacrilegious acts and worshipping Satan back in the Middle Ages. Writer/director Benjamin Christensen gives the absorbingly dark and macabre premise an extra potent sting by ingeniously grounding it in a thoroughly plausible and persuasive factual historical context. Moreover, by presenting the persecuted elderly and/or hysterical women as unfortunate wretches who have been cast aside by society he manages to make said women pitiable figures instead of hateful grotesqueries. Christensen's astute pointing out of modern society's treatment of the mentally ill being similar to the past's vicious punishment of witches and heretics articulates a chilling statement that our more knowledgeable contemporary world isn't much of an improvement over the previous more benighted one. In addition, the artful use of beautiful paintings and brooding classical music along with the vivid reenactments of various blasphemous rituals -- one black mass held in the woods climaxes with the participants literally kissing the devil's behind! -- and the church's savage condemnation of those perceived as sinners merge together to create a damning indictment on mankind's shocking capacity for extreme cruelty. Essential viewing.

Benjamin Christensen directed, wrote, and even acted (as both the devil, *and* Christ) in this appropriately bleak, really creepy docu/ horror, about magic, Satanism, witchcraft, the occult, legends, folklore, and superstitions, filled with grotesquely beautiful images, and deep red tinting, for even creepier sweat-inducing tension and unease.Paving the way for the Mondo films decades later, its surprising bursts of nudity, violence, and torture, especially for a film from this time period, is all the more frightening and unsettling. Watch this at night, and with the lights turned out, and you will be awake all night.The original print, with colour tinting and subtitles, is highly recommended, but the shorter black-and-white print, with William Burroughs narration, is rather gimmicky, and is completely lacking in intensity.

Fascinating silent film about witchcraft. The first part of the film, and the most boring, is a slide show about the history of witchcraft. This is fairly dull stuff but thankfully the film picks up afterwards. The rest of the movie is made up of dramatic illustrations of cases of witchcraft throughout the ages. I think there's a lot here for to maintain your interest. Historically, psychologically, dramatically -- there's a lot to chew on. It's definitely one of the weirdest silent films I've seen. It has nice sets and makeup for the period. Lots of striking images, some of which are unsettling even today. I'm not sure how to categorize it. Is it a documentary, a docudrama, or something else? Whatever label you put on it, one thing is for sure: it's worth your time to try it out. The version I saw is the longer DVD version, not any of the shortened versions so I can't comment on those.

Häxan: Witchcraft Through The AgesIf magic were still considered to be witchcraft than Las Vegas magic acts would be nothing more than glitzy illusionists burning at the stake.Unfortunately, this documentary doesn't depict David Copperfield on a spit.Commencing with a narrated exposition on humanities first held beliefs towards demonology, witchcraft and Hell, this chronicle then centers on the myths surrounding Satan and witches during medieval times.Next, a parable about an old crone accused of witchcraft serves as an example of the legalities/intimidation involved with a charge of sorcery.The allegory concludes with a contemporary take on the middle-age methods for dealing with witchcraft. Present day mental institutes are also discussed.While it sounds bland on paper, this black-and-white silent film from Sweden not only has the most nightmarish depictions of Satan, demons and old hags ever, it's also very edifying.Incidentally, after prostitution, witchcraft is the next oldest female profession.Green Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.com