Häxan - Witchcraft Through the Ages [DVD] [1922]

Since its premiere in 1922, Benjamin Christensen's exploration of the role of superstition in medieval minds has caused outrage and protest from both the general public and religious groups. Dramatizing satanic activities and rituals including the ways in which suspected witches were tortured and killed, Haxan is a deliriously imaginative masterpiece. Not until its re-release in 1941 did the director earn belated fame and respect, proof that this genre-defying documentary was far ahead of its time. In 1968 the film won further praise and a whole new audience when it was re-released with a William Burroughs narration, under the title 'Witchcraft through the Ages'. This release includes both the Burroughs-narrated shorted version and the original film for which two new scores have been created, one by composer Geoff Smith performed on hammered dulcimer and the second offering a dynamic score by UK electronic group, Bronnt Industries Kapital.