Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920, Robert Wiene)
This is widely considered to be the first true horror film ever made, and it’s not hard to see why. Sure, it’s not exactly “scary” by today’s standards, but it still marks a true milestone in the way these stories are told. I found it to be surprising, pretty exciting, and atmospheric.
I was particularly impressed by the theatrical set designs. They have this surreal, expressionistic, dreamy quality, and apparently were made entirely of paper. They look fantastic, and they wouldn’t be out of place in a Terry Gilliam or Tim Burton movie, if made today.
There is also a prominent use of lighting and tinted colours throughout, something I thought worked really well in a story as dreamy and fantastical as this one. The music was atmospheric and fit perfectly with the tone of the story. I only wish I could have seen this on a big screen; I can imagine a properly restored version would look brilliant.
I wasn’t expecting much, but I was positively surprised and impressed by this movie. It feels very modern, and is easy to watch due to its short running time. Finally, although hardly surprising to those of us who have “seen it all”, the ending alone is well worth your time.
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Must remember this one for 2008’s Resolution list.