The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is famous for being a prime example of German Expressionism, a strange artistic movement in the 1920s that emphasized mood more than story. This film is filled with strange angular sets, heavy reliance on shadow, and a psychological theme. It is a film enthusiast's delight, especially if said enthusiast believes in the artistic content of silent films.
Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss) is a spider-like man who creeps around on his cane peddling his great find. Cesare (Conrad Veidt) is a Somnambulist, a man in a hypnotic state who tells the future. He also has murderous tendencies, or so we learn when several people in the town are killed late at night. Everything is not as it seems, however, and the twist ending will leave you breathless.
The default music on the Kino DVD might put off traditional silent film fans. It relies heavily on guitar, which makes the suspenseful scenes even moreso and adds to the strangeness of the film, but it might be unfavorably jarring. Thankfully there is an alternative score. |
