Saturday, October 31, 2009
The 31 Days of Horror: Day 31
Facets Features bids adieu to the 31 Days of Horror with straight-up evil. Beautiful, glorious evil.
Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages, the 1922 Scandinavian silent directed by Benjamin Christensen, is a historical study of witchcraft, superstitions, accusatory panic and mental illness, based at least in part on the Malleus Maleficarum, the 15th century witchcraft inquisition guide estimated to have contributed to tens of thousands of deaths across Europe (I knew that History of Witchcraft class that I took in college would pay off someday).
Haxan is an absolute marvel, complete with incredible, evocative Hieronymus Bosch-like imagery; graphic reenactments of rituals described in 15th and 16th century witchcraft trials; impressively costumed demons and devils (including Christensen as Satan); and a darkly humorous streak aimed at then-contemporary psychiatric practices.
Unfortunately, the clip featured above is without sound. However, Facets FRIGHT School will bring music and more to this horror great TONIGHT with the lecture, Heavy Haxan: Depictions of Satan on Screen. Facets' Brian Elza and Bruce Neal will explore this classic and the craft of conjuring Satan on screen. I can think of no better way to spend a Halloween night! The wickedness begins at MIDNIGHT.
Be there, if you dare!
- Phil Morehart
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1 comments:
Thanks, Phil! I'm going to put this on my list for next year's "Fright Night Film Festival" at my apartment.
Just for discussion purposes, here's what I and/or my guests ended up watching this year:
Nosferatu (the original);
Let the Right One In (we watched it with an English-language dub, rather than relying on the purportedly dumbed-down subtitles);
Pan's Labyrinth; and
Onibaba (I watched this on on my own when I was home sick).
This year, my theme was "foreign horror." I suppose I could have called it "art-house horror" and nobody would have been able to tell the difference.
Haxan, however, sounds like one to include for 2010. I was thinking about doing "cinematic adaptations of horror literature," with a foucs on Poe/Lovecraft/King. I wonder if I can find a reprint of the Malleus Maleficarum to show my guests? I know that work was meant to be more of a "manual" than a piece of literature, but I think it should count, especially if I'm the one making the rules about my own "film festival."
Great job on the countdown, Facets. Also, thanks for letting me chime in!
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