Häxan (1922)

I’m a music guy—music writing, album reviews, DJing, the whole thing. So what use would I have for a silent film?

1922’s Swedish/Danish Benjamin Christensen directed silent film, Häxan, is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and it keeps me coming back. The movie is broken up into seven parts, the first of which is a lesson in the histories of witchcraft, then superstition, then parts three through five depict the accusation and subsequent treatment of medieval “witches,” and six and seven break down the “modern” (at the time) interpretation of behaviors previously seen as demonic (mental illness, generally).

I love soundtracking this myself—sometimes I sit in front of my television with a banjo and play around with all of the creepy-ass scales I’ve committed to memory (Locrian, Phyrgian, what have you), and I’ve gotten into the habit of making these bizarro, spooky playlists to accompany the movie, kind of like how college guys on acid play Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon along with The Wizard of Oz. There’s something about silence that opens up so much possibility for interpretation. One of my favorite things to play along with Häxan is a Welsh folk album that a friend showed me (Hey, Sam!), Tristwch Y Fenywod’s self-titled 2024 record. It’s really haunting and spooky and has that medieval ring to it.

Be honest—don’t you just love when you can make a piece of fantastic art speak to you? Special premieres of this film have used large orchestras and original live compositions, and the DVD release features compiled classical scores, but half the fun is making your own. Watch it silent the first time. You will have to watch it again anyway to notice things you didn’t catch in the first go. This thing is rich with practical effects and old-fashioned fear.

I went into the first watch with a healthy dose of skepticism—this film’s a hundred years old, so I assumed it wouldn’t scare me. And while it’s not technologically advanced, the effects are what make it so frightening. This film makes use of stop motion animation on a really neat scale, which gives a sense of unease when juxtaposed against the blacks, whites, dark blues, and reds of Häxan.

One of the recognizable figures in the film is the devil, played by Christensen himself, disguised by layers of makeup and prosthetics.

This movie is an important one for your list. It will really surprise you—I feel that my attention span is classically short, and it keeps me captivated from end to end every time. So watch it once, then twice, then soundtrack it yourself and try to get weird with it. 4 out of 5 sacs of blood.

—Mina Beach