Rate It
|
||||||||||||||||
Rating Averages
My Friends |
Not rated. () |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
All Flixster |
(462) |
381 |
1507 |
Female |
(136) |
113 |
446 |
Male |
(325) |
268 |
1060 |
More Like This
If you liked this, then you'll also probably like...
Got another recommendation for someone who liked this movie? Add it to the list!
Got an opinion? Use the buttons to vote on all the suggestions people have added.
If lots of people vote, the best suggestions will rise to the top.
| Bizarre (100%) |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| The Seventh Seal (Det Sjunde inseglet) (100%) |
|
|
| Incubus (67%) |
|
|
| Blade af Satans bog (Leaves Out of the Book o... (100%) |
|
|
| Viy (100%) |
|
|
Plot:
A documentary about the history of witchcraft, told in a variety of styles, from illustrated slideshow to dramatised events of alleged real-life events, right up to the early twentieth century (when t...( read more 
)
Photos
Meet Other Fans
ONLINE NOW
Recent Reviews
-
MCT:October 9, 2008I'm giving five stars to the 1968 version just for the William S. Burroughs narration and the Jazz score. Four for the original.
-
MCT:October 3, 2008
Buen documental, nos habla de la persecusión de la brujeria en la inquisición, pieza historica del cine documental
-
MCT:September 7, 2008quality silent movie/documentory about the origins of the supernatural & witchraft. the devil is very scary in this one.
-
MCT:August 7, 2008This is the one that shocks everyone.
I really thought I would dig the hell out of this movie. I would like to preface that, because God, Fate, or Time has been bounching me around to subgenres of films without my outright participation or cooperation. It just so happened that now I'm on the creepy devil genre. Right before this, I watched The House of Exorcism and the the episode of Bones that I ran to involved witchcraft. Let's just say that I got a lot of devil movies in a short period of time and none of them were really that exceptional.
The main problem that I had with Haxan was the fact that it wasn't really a story. It was meant to be kind of documentary, but that isn't exactly accurate as well. The film starts off with a fairly straightforward documentary mentality, showing images with explanations to how they fit in human history. But then the movie that we know as Haxan takes over, and that's where things get ambiguous. Since (clearly) the filmmakers couldn't get footage from the 1400's , they decide to film their own 1400's witchcraft examples. The only trouble is that instead of using short segments to supplement their facts (similar to historical reenactments on the History Channel), these segments form their own story without any character development or plot. It's really just a "that's what happened, folks" for a good period of time. Now, I was hoping for documentary-style or film-style, but toeing the line between both is very awkward (and unfortunately) a little boring for m.e
Now, it's not that I have a problem with silent films. Hell, I love quite a few silent films. To make things fair, the film-style is actually extremely impressive at times. The demons are actually quite demonic and the costumes and sets are as elaborate as can get, especially considering that the movie came out in 1922 (not 1929, Flixster.) Christensen does a fantastic job of showing both sides of the argument. It implies that there may be some reality to all of the witchcraft while showing the mania that surrounded the persecution of innocents in the name of religion and Christianity. That stuff is extremely cool looking. I was more amazed with the time and effort (and, admittedly, nudity) that went into this 1922 recreation of the 1400's. Really, what I'm commenting on is the production value of this movie. Spared no expense, I tell you!
But at the end of the day, you are watching a pretty lame documentary with some pretty tedious reenactment. The worst part, actually, is the documentary stuff because (due to the silent era) you have to sit through this slideshow with long cuts of the image and then a pencil or another object is used to point out what you are meant to look at. Then you go to a card explaining and then you go back to the exact same image. How dull is that? I've seen and loved silent documentaries (Nanook of the North is fantastic. But this movie has a lot going against it. Originally, I was going to completely bash Criterion too for putting a really inappropriate classical piece over the footage, but apparently that was the original music used at the premiere and that makes me even more mad at this movie. The thing is that the classical pieces are intentionally synced up to certain parts of the movie which makes me question what Christensen was thinking.
Trust me, this isn't the demonic thrillride you think it might be. It is actually a slow, and sometimes very tedious look at witchcraft in the 1400's. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. -
MCT:July 7, 2008
A really strange silent movie about witchcraft from Danish director Benjamin Cristensen. The film begins seeming like an academic documentary on the subject of the occult, using period artifacts and paintings it seems like an old precurser to something one would see on the history channel or something like Nova. Then the film begins using video vignettes and reenactments to make its points, which is when it gets off the charts weird. Satan, and other assorted demons pop up throughout the film, the effects and makeup used to create them are extremely impressive for this time period. One could view this as one of the first documentaries or horror movies (it was made the same year as both Nosferatu and Nanook of the North). It could also be seen as one of the first exploitation movies, as it may just be using an academic context in order to explore sensational subject matter.
-
MCT:July 5, 2008
really good, great soundtrack. The oldest doco ive seen.
Although some think the issues with tortue are outdated, it still persists in this era (i.e. Abu Ghraib) -
MCT:July 4, 2008Incredible testament to the storytellling ability silent film had -- due in part to all the magnificient imagery in here. There's things in this film that are still taboo, so I can't rightly imagine the reaction of audiences in the 1920s. Incredible imagery and acting throughout, with a wonderful accompanying soundtrack. When I think of silent film, I don't generally associate education or documentary, but here is a prime example. Entertaining and fascinating at the same time.
-
MCT:June 27, 2008
The things that people are capable of through the process of dehumanization caused by fear and the basic human 'need' to explain and control the world around them (trough myth and religion) are exemplified in this movie focusing on the persecution of witches (mostly women) in the middle ages.
That's my take on it anyway, I'm not sure if the director intended to put it down like that.
What surprised me is that he drew a parallel between the symptoms of hysteria in 'modern society' and the symptoms that indicated women as witches in the middle ages. "Poor little hysterical witch! In the middle ages you were in conflict with the church. Now it is with the law" Somehow that proves to me that he is missing the point. Any way, I'm glad psychology is more advanced today, although in some cases it's just a matter of putting a different label on it.
I'm looking forward to seeing more movies like this, so if you read this and come up with one: fill me in!!
-
MCT:June 23, 2008
as a docmentary/narrative it doesn't hold up too well over time. but the imagery, the scenery, the drawings and woodcuts and the performances are all magnificent. anyone with an interest in the occult should take note.
-
MCT:June 7, 2008
For a film that was first released in 1929, this one is still surprisingly entertaining, eerie and very effective. And, it's chocked full of useful information. For example, did you know that ancient witches were said to pay homage to the devil by kissing his butt?
-
MCT:June 2, 2008
There are no words to properly describe just how unusual this movie is. So, all I can say is go out and find it and watch it for yourself.
-
MCT:June 2, 2008
a surreal accounting of the medieval witch hysteria, one of the saddest chapters in the long history of the persecution of women. made in 1922 so it is somewhat dated; still well worth watching with many bizarre scenes. a really odd historical document. gotta love the psychotic nuns.
-
MCT:May 24, 2008
Part documentary on witchcraft and part dramatization of a woman accused of such, Häxan is full of innovative and outrageous imagery. The subject matter is enough to draw attention from horror fans but also historians with facts as it presents origins of religion and the belief in demons that caused plagues and discusses the nature of hysteria well into the twentieth century. The director declares the witch trials were humanity's greatest tragedy, but were also the result of an unenlightened, long-gone people and claims nothing similar could happen again, without any insight to the Holocaust. Fascinating historical document and an enjoyably watchable film way ahead of its' time in 1922.
Included on the dvd is a 1968 version of the film with a soundtrack featuring Jean-Luc Ponty and narrated by William S. Burroughs.
-
MCT:February 24, 2008
A surreal and disturbing silent film from Denmark revealing the history of witches, witchcraft, and the witch trials of the late Middle Ages. Although the first chapter of the documentary makes too much use of medieval artwork to illustrate the Medieval view of the universe, later chapters of the film use a number of bizarre and frightening images to reveal the dark secrets of the Witches' Sabbat.
Well worth viewing. -
MCT:February 17, 2008
Surprisingly entertaining, and kind of informative too. Just kind of a strange thing to watch, really.
-
MCT:February 5, 2008
Incredible film that mixes up documentary with fiction well before it became fashionable. Though it may not deal with hard, solid facts, it sure is damned entertaining. I love this film and thank you Criterion for putting out an amazing special edition.
-
MCT:February 3, 2008
One of the most visually impressive movies of all time! Benjamin Christensen is one of the most over looked filmmakers of all time.
-
MCT:January 31, 2008
Simply one of the most amazing films of Silent Film, it should be seen in all its glory in the Criterion Collection DVD edition. The 1968 Edit narrated William Burroughs (with the Jazz soundtrack) is included, but the unedited original film with orginal score is also included along with director comments from a mid-40's interview.
-
MCT:October 18, 2007
This was a really interesting movie to see. It is a documentary with reenactments of witchcraft... through the ages. The only thing I thought that kind of dragged this movie down was the score during the first half of the movie. For a movie made in 1922, it sure is easy to forget it's that old.
-
MCT:September 21, 2007
This is supposed to be a documentary, and Häxan has re-creations of stories about wichcraft. There is no horror here. It shows how witches were using their spells and curses, and how they suffered under the reign of religion.
-
MCT:August 4, 2007
I adore this movie, a documentary and a brilliant theatrical film, beautiful lighting, the bleached colours on black and white film is brilliant.
-
MCT:July 11, 2007
This is an excellent silent documentary film that takes a look at the history of witchcraft. Sure it is pretty dated (well it was made back in 1922 after all) but I still found it to be both fascinating and compelling with its subject matter (mainly because I do have an interest in all things supernatural). What I found surprising about it is was that it is actually quite creepy in a couple of scenes. Doco lovers should definitely check this one out!
My Friends Said...
Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (The Witches) (Haxan) Recent Reviews
Register or sign-in to see your friends' reviews !
Comments
This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (The Witches) (Haxan)" !
