The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) Review and Reflection

Review:

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, first released in 1920, was way ahead of its time. The German expressionism techniques fit this film perfectly to create a chilling, creepy atmosphere. This silent, black-and-white film might not be for everyone as it is so different to most films nowadays, but it is well worth having a watch and sticking to the end even if you are not a fan of the style. You won't regret it!

As with many German films of the post First World War era, the eerie setting is phenomenal. It is fascinating how the story is told so well and clearly in the middle of the bizarre surroundings. With so little to use, in today's standards, the actors and director can still create raw emotion and horror through the music, facial expressions and body language, and the distorted scenario. Even though this film is usually classified as a horror, it's impossible to pin it down to one genre, because although the atmosphere is spooky and disturbing and might leave you uncomfortable or uneasy, you are most likely not going to feel very scared after watching it; in short, it's very different to a typical horror movie today, so don't expect any jump scares.

The odd, unusual, and distorted shapes and angles create the dark and twisted world of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (written as ‘Das Kabinett des Dr. Caligari’ in German, which inspired my blog name). This was one of the first times a film maker used the techniques from German paintings of this period to create a whole film set, as well as representing the peak of German Expressionism in film. This is one of the reasons why it's is one of the most famous and iconic of its style. Its crooked backdrops have remained unmatched (they were done by Hermann Warm, Walter Reimann and Walter Röhrig, stage designers that moved onto film) and it is still analysed and examined in great detail to this day. It is also considered the first true horror film and it changed the way people view cinema. It created the concept of using light and shadows to reflect the character's mind, a concept that was later used to a great extent in film noir and is still used today. 

The version of the film that I most recently watched was a 2014 restoration by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation in Wiesbaden, Germany, which can be found on YouTube through the link below the Review. This excellent restoration in 4k is a significant improvement from previous versions making it much more enjoyable to watch. The original score for this version, composed by Cornelius Schwehr, is incredible, an aspect that can be overlooked as music can often make or break a film, especially a silent one. The hypnotic piano chords accompanied by moments of squeaky violin sequences enhances the feel and mood of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Robert Wiene's film not only heavily influenced cinema in a way that has never been done since, but still remains entertaining, intriguing, provocative, and relevant to this day. I give it a rating of 4.5/5 and, without a doubt, place it onto the top shelf of my Kabinet.

Rating: 4.5/5

YouTube full film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wf_6g6TJvM

 

Reflection: (Includes SPOILERS)

Wow, what an ending for such a timeless film! It is original and creative and the way it portrays insanity and derangement is convincing as well as effective. It leaves you pondering on what is reality and how easily someone can convince themselves of something false. It finishes on an open-ended scenario and lets the audience decide what is reality and what is not. It is clear to see how the story heavily influenced a more recent 21st century Hollywood film directed by a well-known, acclaimed film maker which touches on similar topics and issues of insanity. It would spoil the movie to even mention the name, but I'm sure that if you've watched it, you probably know what I'm talking about.

An interesting aspect of the film is that the writers, Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer, were angered by the abuse of the military and authorities in Germany following World War 1. It is known that their views are shown in the film as they depict what could be seen as a cruel and insane authority that manipulates those underneath them. This is noticeable in the scenes where figures of authority are depicted as dysfunctional and sitting in awkward, inconvenient seats. Furthermore, the character of Cesare, the somnambulist, was inspired by soldiers carrying out actions from their superiors with no questions asked, something that became common in Germany, as well as the rest of the world, in the following decades. 

The film can ultimately be seen in many different ways and it will continue influencing cinema for years to come. If you want to find out more about the film and its impact, I recommend checking out the links below.

https://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-is-the-cabinet-of-dr.-caligari-considered-the-definitive-german-express

https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/100-years-cabinet-dr-caligari

By Edgar Viola