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Features: DVD, Aspect Ratio 1.33:1, Dolby Digital (5.1)
Swedish masterpiece which weaves factual images into a shocking drama of witchery and satanic possession.
Editor's Note
An terrifying assault on the eyes, Benjamin Christensen's 1922 documentary is a landmark film of witchery, possession, and sadism. Originally released under the Swedish title HAXAN, this eerie, unusual film experience uses seven chapters to illustrate a history of myths and beliefs regarding the occult. The film uses animation, creature effects, nightmarish sets, reenactments of satanic rituals and intense sexual imagery to weave a tale that ranges from being darkly humorous to severely disturbing. The original version ran 104 minutes and exists both in black and white and in a tinted Swedish Film Institute version.HAXAN is commonly available as the re-cut WITCHCRAFT THROUGH THE AGES, a version that runs 74 minutes. Voice over narration by William S. Burroughs and a score by Jean-Luc Ponty in this cut only strengthened the film's status as a cult classic.
| Features | A Photographic Exploration Of Benjamin Christensen's Historical Sources | | Stills Gallery | | Audio Commentary | | Outtakes | | Commentary By Danish Silent Film Scholar Casper Tybjerg |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Home Vision/Public Media |
| Release Date: 10/16/2001 |
| Running Time: 104 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1920 | | Catalog ID: 010 | | UPC: 00037429161722 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English Narrated, Swedish Title Card | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: B&W |
Aspect Ratio | | 4:3 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Uncut
4 stars out of 5 -- "[The film] gives an eerie sense of actually having been made during the 15th and 16th centuries." 09/01/2007 p.123 |
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http://www.buy.com/prod/haxan-witchcraft-through-the-ages-criterion-collection/q/loc/322/40159866.html
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| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  4 | | Plot | 4 | | Acting | 4 | | Overall Satisfaction | 4 |
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4 of 5 A strange but satisfying brew! Monday, January 26, 2009
Dave Blakeslee from Grand Rapids, MI
An impressive film and DVD package. I'm interested in old films and this one really looked unique to me - it is! The clips I'd seen tend to emphasize the more sensational sections, depicting midnight witchcraft rituals, romps with the devil and creepy old-time special effects. But there's more to the story here - Haxan presents thoughtful and sensitive advocacy on behalf of the women who were victims of witch hunts past and present. May not be essential to everyone's video collection but if you're curious about the subject matter and want to watch one of the more unusual relics of early cinema, I recommend Haxan. Was this review helpful?  
4 of 5 A strange but satisfying brew! Monday, January 26, 2009
Dave Blakeslee from Grand Rapids, MI
An impressive film and DVD package. I'm interested in old films and this one really looked unique to me - it is! The clips I'd seen tend to emphasize the more sensational sections, depicting midnight witchcraft rituals, romps with the devil and creepy old-time special effects. But there's more to the story here - Haxan presents thoughtful and sensitive advocacy on behalf of the women who were victims of witch hunts past and present. May not be essential to everyone's video collection but if you're curious about the subject matter and want to watch one of the more unusual relics of early cinema, I recommend Haxan. Was this review helpful?
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