7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A series of dramatic vignettes exploring the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients.
Starring: Maren Pedersen, Clara Pontoppidan, Elith Pio, Oscar Stribolt, Tora TejeForeign | 100% |
Horror | 60% |
Documentary | 12% |
Supernatural | 6% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.2:1
Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Benjamin Christensen's "Haxan" (1922) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include archival audio commentary by film scholar Casper Tybjerg; outtakes; archival introduction to the film by its director; and more. With optional English subtitles for the original intertitles. Region-A "locked".
The witch
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Haxan arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears inside the booklet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:
"This new digital 2K restoration was undertaken by the Swedish Film Institute from a 35mm duplicate negative. Images including the intertitles were tinted according to notes left by director Benjamin Christensen.".
The film looks remarkable in high-definition. I projected it and to me the technical presentation is on par with what Alpha-Omega Digital delivered for Ernst Lubitsch's The Loves of Pharaoh, which was also released in 1922. The density and depth that the visuals convey is often breathtaking, plus the tinting is very nicely done. Also, you should be able to see from our screencaptures that there are numerous ranges of fine nuances that emerge in the darker footage, which is something that I always find rather remarkable to see on a silent film. There are no digital anomalies. Image stability is excellent as well. Fantastic restoration and a very solid upgrade. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Music DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the intertitles.
The film can be viewed with an original orchestral score by film music specialist Gillian Anderson, which was recorded in a studio. Naturally, the lossless track replicates the native qualities of the studio recording. Dynamic intensity is modest, but this should be expected from a chamber score. There are no encoding anomalies to report.
Here are a two facts that you won't see mentioned in mainstream reviews of Haxan: First, it is the spiritual father of entire ranges of scandalous exploitation films that emerged during the 1970s and 1980s. Second, the Scandinavian black metal scene that flourished during the late 1980s and early 1990s was greatly influenced by it as well. I think that it is a pretty amusing film, but I also think that its historical significance is greatly exaggerated. It is basically a big-budget silent exploitation project that was promoted as a pseudo-documentary and eventually legitimized because of its auteurish qualities. Criterion's release is sourced from an outstanding new 2K restoration, so if you like Haxan order a copy for your library. RECOMMENDED.
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