Astrid Holm, Benjamin Christensen, Clara Pontoppidan

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  read more... )he film was made). Depending on which version you're watching, the commentary is either in the form of intertitles or narration by William S.Burroughs, recorded in the mid-1960s.

Flixster Users

82% liked it

626 ratings

Critics

87% liked it

15 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 17 min.

Directed by: Benjamin Christensen

Release Date: May 27, 1929

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DVD Release Date: October 16, 2001

Stats: 211 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (211)


  • August 8, 2009
    Haxan does an excellent job of chronicling something that is still very much a part of our lives. Mass hysteria and paranoia. This film predates Joseph McCarthy and the mass media coverage of paedophiles and terrorists, that we have today. Then why is it people are still so stupi...( read more)d? The simple answer, fear. Haxan shows us the tragic fates awaiting "witches" and the things they had to do to survive. It contains some fantastic imagery for the time. With the demons being very disturbing. The story itself is patchy and it starts with still pictures and a lot of text. This is cinema in it's infancy, made almost 90 years ago, and yet, we can still apply it to today's social climate.
  • April 16, 2009
    A rather ponderous tale of witchcraft punctuated by rather dark and twisted imagery which quite ahead of its time.
  • September 17, 2008
    Daring and suggestive semi documentary with a plethora of dark, diabolical imagery.
  • 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...( read more) 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!!
    haxan
  • 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 psychoti...( read more)c nuns.
  • October 13, 2009
    Gave this a re-watch for my 31 days of Halloween watching.

    For a film made in the 20's, this looks absolutely amazing, especially as far as the special effects go, and the choices of imagery used to illustrate the varying evil elements on display. I actually found that I prefer...( read more)red the version with the William Burroughs narration, but both are worth a look.

    Definitely worth a rental at the every least, great stuff.
  • October 10, 2009
    Kinda awesomely halarious. And scarily shot. If you're intreaged by the concept and open to silent film give it a shot it's well worth your investment.
  • September 12, 2009
    Extremelly scary, dark, diabolic and admirable semi-documentary. Arguably the best documentary of the 20's, if Nanook of the North didn't exist.

    97/100
  • August 21, 2009
    Really interesting at first you feel like you are watching a history channel special on witches, but then again I love the history channel. There are some really cool special effects/Makeup and a couple really neat segments. Really cool
  • July 15, 2009
    Huh. What did I just watch? This is one of the most bizarre films anybody will see. Not only is it completely shocking and creepy, but also very fascinating. I cannot believe this film was made in 1922. Ahead-of-its-time, much? This movie featured some footage that had never befo...( read more)re been seen, and is still not seen too often. There really is not much else to say. I found it very interesting to learn about witchcraft and such. Not for all tastes but certainly watch this if you're into folklore and such.

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