The film has a famously great look, which looks especially good in this print. But the restored version is marred by a much too in-you-face score that at times is not at all appropriate for the scene at hand. Silent films like this one seem to pack so little story into their running time that you could tell the story to someone in about a minute. The ending still puzzles--why, based on what the story seems to be saying, is everything still slantwise? ( )

Sentado en un banco de un parque, Francis anima a su compañero Alan para que vayan a Holstenwall, una ciudad del norte de Alemania, a ver el espectáculo ambulante del doctor Caligari. Un empleado municipal que le niega al doctor el permiso para actuar, aparece asesinado al día siguiente. Francis y Alan acuden a ver al doctor Caligari y a Cesare, su ayudante sonámbulo, que le anuncia a Alan su porvenir: vivirá hasta el amanecer. (FILMAFFINITY)

A series of murders is connected to a man who only wakes at his master's command.

Re-watching silent films that I've seen before, but in different editions, it's becoming very clear that sound is half of a movie - or maybe 90% of a movie, when you're talking about a horror film. As much as I might try to ignore the music when it comes to judging the film, it's really impossible; the same silent film with two different scores is two completely different movies. I'd previously seen a version with the Timothy Brock score. Judging by what I wrote at the time, that version probably has better music than this one. But judging by what I thought of the film then, and my reaction to it now, this version's music WORKS infinitely better. Then, I thought the movie was historically important but "badly done" by modern standards. Now, I find it genuinely scary, among the more effective horror films I've seen.

Concept: D
Story: C
Characters: D
Dialog: C
Pacing: B
Cinematography: A
Special effects/design: A
Acting: C
Music: B

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 2.6/4 ( )