Häxan

1922 [SWEDISH]

Action / Documentary / Fantasy / History / Horror

41
IMDb Rating 7.6/10 10 18151 18.2K

witch superstition insanity mystic sorcery hysteria

Plot summary

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.

Director

Benjamin Christensen Photo
Benjamin Christensen

Top cast

William S. Burroughs Photo
William S. Burroughs as Narrator
Gerda Madsen Photo
Gerda Madsen as Nonne / Nun
Benjamin Christensen Photo
Benjamin Christensen as Djævlen / The Devil
Maren Pedersen Photo
Maren Pedersen as Heksen / The Witch
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
971.84 MB
968*720
Swedish 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
19.98 fps
1 hr 45 min
Seeds 3
1.88 GB
1440*1072
Swedish 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
19.98 fps
1 hr 45 min
Seeds 28

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Snow Leopard

A Visually Striking, Thought-Provoking Feature

The striking visuals would in themselves be sufficient reason to watch "Häxan", but in addition it is a thought-provoking feature that combines dark humor, some occasional chilling moments, and perceptive commentary on human nature. It's an unusual package and an unusual feature, and there aren't many films quite like it.Simply on the surface, the series of unusual visuals and believable recreations of bygone eras would make for interesting viewing. Benjamin Christensen added a strong dose of the macabre to practically every scene, even in some of the smaller details that are only noticeable upon repeat viewings. Some of it is fascinating, some of it unsettling, all of it interesting.But there is much more to "Häxan" than a mere collection of grotesque images and vignettes. Towards the end, in particular, the commentary becomes quite pointed. It is quite easy for anyone - film-maker, writer, commentator - to criticize and condemn the beliefs and practices of the Middle Ages or of any other long past era. But it is far more of a challenge to, as Christensen has done here, point out the sometimes devastating parallels to one's own era. It is always such a comforting fiction to believe that we are so much more enlightened than past generations have been, and yet it is rarely if ever true.Christensen aptly illustrates the point that the inability to deal with the odd, the eccentric, and the unusual in our fellow beings is a perennial failing of humanity. Each generation simply devises its own means of stigmatizing and punishing those who cannot conform. (Nor is our own generation markedly better than was Christensen's.) This feature can certainly be viewed (either in the original silent version, or in the 1960s version with some spoken narration) for entertainment value alone. But it is even more pertinent in its observations on human nature. It's an often unsettling movie, with some images that might be bit too uncomfortable for some viewers. But for all that, it's an unusual and worthwhile viewing experience.
Reviewed by

Reviewed by claudio_carvalho 8 / 10

A Historical View of the Witches

The writer and director Benjamin Christensen discloses a historical view of the witches through the seven parts of this silent movie.

In the beginning, there is a slide-show alternating intertitles with drawings and paintings to illustrate the explanations of the behavior of pagan cultures and in the Middle Ages regarding their vision of demons and witches.

Then there is a dramatization of the situation of the witches in the Middle Ages, with the witchcraft and the witch-hunts.

Finally Benjamin Christensen compares the behavior of hysteria of the modern women of 1921 with the behavior of the witches in the Middle Ages, concluding that they are very similar.

"Häxan" is incredibly perfect for a for a 1922 movie. Like in a thesis, he exposes his point of view based in his study of the theme along the time. The reconstitution of the witches in the Middle Ages is amazing. The last part with the comparison with the hysteric women is funny in 2010, but it was the reality in 1921. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Häxan - A Feitiçaria Através dos Tempos" ("Häxan - The Witchcraft Through the Time")

Note: On 16 Aug 2018 I saw this film again.

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