Classics: A Review of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari By Lauren Ennis

Dangerously high inflation, a society reeling from a pandemic, a humiliating military defeat, and a political system in turmoil; welcome to 1920 Germany. It was in this year that Germany released what many consider to be cinema's fist true horror movie, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Over a century after its release the film maintains its hypnotic effect upon audiences and continues to influence filmmakers today. At once an unflinching glimpse into the malaise that beset post-war Germany and a thrilling tale of madness and murder The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari remains one of the most groundbreaking and thought provoking films to ever grace the silver screen. Peer into the eerie depths of cinema history and the modern psyche that lie within The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Me pre-coffee

The story begins with Francis sitting on a park bench with an unnamed man listening to the man complain about how spirits have driven him away from his family. The strange conversation abruptly changes when Francis' fiancée, Jane, passes in a trance-like state. The film then launches into a flashback as he relates the events which led to Jane's current condition. The film then shows how Francis' ordinary life is thrown into chaos when he and his friend Allen decide to attend a carnival. While at the carnival, the pair witness an exhibition by the mysterious Doctor Caligari and his psychic somnambulist (sleepwalker), Cesare. During the performance Caligari tells the audience to test Cesare's psychic abilities by asking him a question. Allen asks how long he will live and is mortified when Cesare replies that he will be dead by dawn. When Allen is found brutally murdered the next morning, Francis immediately suspects the doctor's involvement. When police arrest the wrong man for Allen's murder Cesare sets out to kill Jane, only to take pity on her. Before he can leave, however, Jane awakens and begins screaming, prompting him to carry her off into the night. Francis leads the police to Cesare and Jane and a chase ensues that ultimately results in Jane's rescue and Cesare's death. Francis then turns his pursuit to Caligari and follows him into a mental asylum where a devastating revelation awaits.

The truest test of a work of art's value is its ability to withstand the test of time; a test which The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari more than passes. Through its surreal sets, unsettling score, and twisting narrative the film takes viewers on an unforgettable journey into both a tortured mind and a society that has become unmoored. While other films had already begun to include elements of German Expressionism The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was the fist and only film to completely surrender itself to the surreal style.  Through its innovative use of fun-house style sets, an eerie score, and ominous lighting the film perfectly conveys the world from Francis' distorted perspective, while aptly laying the blueprint for decades of horror films to come. These elements immediately draw viewers into the unusual tale and are certain to leave even the most hardened of modern viewers feeling unsettled. Beyond its aesthetic value the emphasis upon expressionism also serves to underscore the film's twisting narrative, while drawing distinct parallels to the ominous state of German society. For example, the film's bizarre visuals and unnerving score leave viewers with the distinct sense that they are experiencing Francis' delusions along with him. These same elements highlight the deluded state of a society attempting to print its way out of poverty and unwilling to accept its own defeat. Similarly, the script's emphasis upon abusive authority serves as an apt metaphor for citizens' disillusionment with a government that had callously sent them to slaughter and a warning against the dangers of an emerging authoritarianism. The script also offers scathing commentary upon the fine line between entertainment and exploitation that would be relevant in the era of reality television and social media. Through its depiction of a world gone disturbingly awry the film maintains an eerie resonance in an era in which society seems to be descending ever further into madness. For a viewing experience that is certain to haunt you long after its final credits fade enter The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

I always feel like somebody's watching me...

The cast brilliantly brings the film's nightmarish world to terrifying life without a single line of spoken dialogue. Hans Heinrich von Twardowski conveys earnestness and likeability as the doomed Allen. Lil Dagover is both charming and vulnerable as damsel in distress Jane. Friedrich Feher turns in a startlingly modern performance as Franics and earns particular note for conveying Francis' anguished desperation in the film's shocking final reveal. Even in the midst of a strong ensemble cast the film is dominated by Werner Krausse and Conrad Veidt as Dr. Caligari and Cesare. Krausse' portrayal of Caligari is a masterful example of character acting as he infuses his every movement and gesture with menace. Veidt manages to do the impossible by humanizing Cesare even as he turns in one of cinema's most ominous performances.

At once an exploration of one man's illness and a call to dispel society's delusions The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari remains every bit as hypnotizing and relevant now as it was at the time of its release over a century ago. Through its unsettling score, mesmerizing sets, and fascinating performances the film brings one of cinema's most unusual and groundbreaking stories to vivid life. The script continues to draw viewers into its labyrinth of murder and madness while raising provocative questions about the insanity of tyranny and the mental state of society. For an unforgettable journey through the depths of cinema history and the darkest corners of the human psyche open The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.

Who knew the 1920's were so psychedelic?