October 9th - Haxan

Hailing from 1922, Haxan [Witchcraft through the ages] is some what of a wonder even to modern standards. It’s a film shot it a documentary style that chronologically follows witchcraft as it was and how it is today (today at that point was 1922). Meant to give the viewer the interpretation that it is real, I can only imagine that this film appeared beautifully terrifying at the time of its release.



The film starts by giving a historical background on witches and how they came to be through a pack with the devil. This is seen by early wood carvings and drawings all described with text (which appear as subtitles of course for those of us who are not fluent in Swedish).



Benjamin Christensen did double duty here as the director and the devil, who looks convincingly real. His part is perhaps associated with my favourite part of the film. The scenes dwell into the realm of the fantastic as they appear to be nothing short of authentic as if the devil itself was caught on film. The purpose of the film is meant to show how and why witches were blamed and misunderstood, for things such as mental illness and disease. This blaming process of course led to the infamous witchhunts of the time. However, as the movie progresses and scenes of witches flying, black masses, demons, and satanic rituals come to happen the film no longer seems like a historical piece but a documentary of human beings midnight meetings shrouded in darkness.




One scene in particular shows a black mass where witches dance and celebrate in the devil’s name. All lining up one by one to kiss the Prince Of Darkness’s rear end, this scene is perhaps one of the more powerful in the film.




“So it happens with witchcraft as with the Devil; people’s belief in him became so strong that he became real.”

Black Mass


A fair warning. Haxan is a silent film. There is no dialogue,or color (but the film is tinted blue and red), however there is a wonderful score to accompany it, as well as subtitles of title cards. If for no other reason, watch Haxan for the sake of when it was made. The fact that this film was pulled off with such believably amazing costumes and sets is a wonder in its own right.