Haxan - Witchcraft through the Ages [Criterion Collection]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Danish filmmaker Benjamin Christensen's obsession with bizarre lighting effects reached its apotheosis with his 1922 masterpiece Häxan. Beginning in a deceptively sedate fashion with a series of woodcuts and engravings (a technique later adopted by RKO producer Val Lewton), the film then shifts into gear with a progression of dramatic vignettes, illustrating the awesome power of witchcraft in the Middle Ages. So powerful are some of these images that even some modern viewers will avert their eyes from the screen. Though obviously a work of pure imagination, the film occasionally takes on the dimensions of a documentary, a byproduct of the extensive research done by Christensen before embarking on the project (incidentally, the director himself can be seen in the film in a dual role as Satan and the Doctor). Häxan marked a parting of the ways for Christensen and the Danish film industry; thereafter, he confined his activities to the German cinema, before answering Hollywood's call in 1928. A separate version of this film exists, with a shorter running time, retitled Witchcraft Through the Ages and released in 1968. It features narration by the legendary Beat writer William S. Burroughs (Naked Lunch) and a score by Jean-Luc Ponty. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: 5.1, 5.0, PCM Stereo
• Subtitle: Swedish, English
• Features:
  • • New digital, speed-corrected transfer of the Swedish Film Institute's tinted restoration
    • Music from the original Danish premiere, arranged by film music specialist Gillian Anderson and performed by the Czech Film Orchestra, presented in Dolby Digital 5.0
    • Commentary by Danish silent film scholar Casper Tybjerg
    • Benjamin Christensen's introduction to the 1941 re-release
    • A short selection of outtakes
    • Bibliothèque Diabolique, a photographic exploration of Christensen's historical sources
    • Stills gallery
    • New English translation of intertitles
    • "Witchcraft Through the Ages [1968]: the 76-minute version of Häxan, narrated by William S. Burroughs, with a soundtrack featuring Jean-Luc Ponty
    • English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
    • Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

AWARDS

• Telluride Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 1986

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Benjamin Christensen

• Screenwriter:

  Benjamin Christensen

REVIEW:

• Häxan is a fictional horror film in the form of a documentary, featuring crude black-and-white cinematography, a nonlinear structure, and grotesque imagery. If this reminds you of The Blair Witch Project (1999), it's no coincidence -- the makers of that film named their production company "Haxan" as a tribute to Benjamin Christensen's film. Häxan's inconsistent production values and rough visual motifs enhance its effectiveness, adding a sheen of authenticity to the film's passively voyeuristic approach. Multiple versions exist, including sound releases in the 1940s and 1960s. The latter features narration by Beat generation icon William S. Burroughs, though his interesting commentary is somewhat offset by a distracting and inappropriate modern jazz score. Despite censors' efforts to ban it, Häxan was a persistent influence on 20th century filmmakers, in particular on the works of Val Lewton. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi