Haxan (Benjamin Christensen, 1922): Denmark / Sweden

Reviewed by Byron Potau.  Viewed on DVD.

Though a different type of documentary, Benjamin Christensen’s Haxan was released the same year as Robert Flaherty’s groundbreaking documentary, Nanook of the North, but has been unfairly overlooked and underappreciated.  This may be partly due to the film’s rude reception as it was banned in the U.S. and censored in other countries.  This is too bad because the film is an incredible study and every bit as influential on the documentary film, as well as the horror film, genre.

Haxan is the Swedish word for witch, and Christensen’s film is a study of the hysteria and paranoia of the middle ages as women were routinely denounced as witches, tortured, and burned at the stake.  Christensen presents to us the artwork of various times illustrating different beliefs as they pertain to the devil.  He then moves to a dramatization of the denouncement of an old woman as a witch and the interrogation and torture that ensues, conducted by members of the church, eliciting a ridiculous confession of evil deeds, flying through the night, spells cast, and ceremonies with the devil himself, deliciously played by Christensen.  The film then presents a hypothesis that the strange actions of individuals, presumed to be witchcraft, is actually consistent with the symptoms of modern day hysteria.

Haxan is not only an incredible film for its time, but holds up extremely well today.  In fact, in 1968, a jazz score and narration from William S. Burroughs were added and the film was retitled Witchcraft Through the Ages.  This newer version shows just how well done and accessible the film is and how easily it can play to a modern audience.  It is sure to appeal to those with a fascination for the macabre, but should be appreciated on many levels. 

The makeup is magnificent, transforming Christensen into a terrifying Satan to rival any future creation of Satan.  The dramatizations are engaging, as are the artworks of past civilizations, but most terrifying are the demonstrations of actual torture mechanisms used to elicit confessions.  These instruments are grotesque and enraging, but also a fascinating reminder of a dangerous time in our history when irrational fears and beliefs could destroy many lives.  Sadly, to a smaller degree, this is still the case.