Häxan
Seen it?1922 | 105 min | Documentary, Horror, History
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for horror fans, the curious and history buffs. If you loved Paris Is Burning or O.J.: Made in America, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary, eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Swedish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1922: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Benjamin Christensen's legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. But the film itself is far from serious-- instead it's a witches' brew of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 136K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Benjamin Christensen
- Benjamin ChristensenDevil
- Ella La CourKarna / Sorceress
- Emmy SchønfeldKarna's Assistant
- Kate FabianOld Maid
- Oscar StriboltFat Monk
- Wilhelmine HenriksenApelone / A Poor Old Woman
- Elisabeth ChristensenAnna's Mother
- Astrid HolmAnna
- Karen WintherAnna's Sister
- Maren PedersenMaria the Weaver / A Witch