On both a technical and narrative level, it is remarkable to look back at the evolution of cinema. Throughout the years, filmmakers have been pushing the medium to deliver intimate and exciting stories. Whereas movies used to be silent and in black and white, nowadays we have epic cinematic universes brimming with CGI. As we continue into a new decade of cinema, it will always be essential to look back on the works that came before and paved the way for new and innovative films.
This sentiment is especially important when considering horror cinema; out of all the genres, horror has always been at the forefront of depicting tales essential to the human condition. Horror has always aimed to explore the taboo and encourage audiences to question the world around them. From Night of The Living Dead to Rosemary’s Baby and Hereditary, horror has continued to evolve and capture the minds of millions.
I bring all of this up because this year marks a special anniversary for one of the first profound horror pictures in all of film history.
This February is the 100th anniversary of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
Released back in 1920, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a German silent film directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. Presented as a framed narrative told by the protagonist Francis, the film focuses on the mystery surrounding the crazed hypnotist Dr. Caligari and his somnambulist Cesare; a somnambulist, or somnambulism, is used to describe a state between sleep and being awake. Francis decides to investigate Caligari and Cesare, the plot eventually revealing the evil intent behind both. As the narrative nears its end, Cesare ends up dead and Caligari is committed to an insane asylum.
But (spoilers ahead) all is not what it seems. In reality, the framed narrative is a fabrication made up by Francis, who is actually an inmate at the asylum. Another reveal is that the supposedly evil Dr. Caligari is the asylum’s director, and other characters like Cesare and Francis’ wife Jane, are also inmates in the asylum.
In his 2009 review of the film, the late Roger Ebert said that a case could be made for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari being one of “the first true horror films.” Prior to the release of Caligari, many horror films revolved around gothic fantasies and the supernatural; in the world of horror movies, Caligari is one of the first major leaps into psychological horror, exploring such themes as duality and the perception of reality.
As a whole, Caligari involves an interesting dynamic in point-of-view; given the twist that Francis is not sane, the audience spends the majority of the film believing his story, only to have the rug pulled from under them. When looking back on the film, this sense of disconnection adds a layer of mystique to the film’s dream-like quality. In exploring these concepts, the film has gone on to inspire filmmakers to expand upon these themes in greater detail. An incredible example of a more contemporary film pulling inspiration from Caligari is that of Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island; like how Francis creates his own narrative, where he is the hero and the asylum doctor is the villain, so too does Leonardo DiCaprio’s character when confronting his own insanity.
Along with its theatrical frights and mystery, Caligari is also a film of remarkable visuals. As an important contribution to German expressionist cinema, Caligari encompasses a surreal atmosphere, utilizing effective lighting and unusual setting. Through its use of shadows and design, the environment of Caligari is made of sharp edges that spring up to form ominous structures. The characters move about their day as if everything is normal, but to the audience, the designs are otherworldly, presenting a jarring presentation. Because of these details, the film has since become a major example of captivating and chilling imagery.
Caligari is also a remarkable film of political reflection. The film examines such concepts as authority and conformity, while presenting a reflection on post-war Germany.
Both Janowitz and Mayer were pacifists who met after World War I; given their experiences with the war, both men came to distrust the German military and government, with said distrust making its way into the figures of Dr. Caligari and Cesare. In his 1947 book, From Caligari to Hitler: A Psychological History of the German Film, Siegfried Kracauer states that Caligari is symbolic of the unlimited authority and idolizing of power displayed by the German war government. John D. Barlow, who wrote German Expressionist Film (1982), shares a similar sentiment, stating that Caligari is the tyrannical power that had plagued Germany at the time, with Cesare representing the citizen conditioned into obedience.
There are several details in the film that align with these thematic concepts. Through the framed narrative of Francis’ point-of-view, he and the viewer come to recognize Caligari as an evil madman with terrifying power, and Cesare as a murderous being. Before the plot twist is presented, Francis discovers that Caligari runs the nearby asylum, shocking him that an authority figure could be responsible for such villainy.
In exploring the political and societal struggles taking place within the country at the time, Caligari made for a profound look at Germany (and makes for a film of historical significance today). Caligari serves to digest a real world horror; through its imaginative narrative, the viewer is able to grasp concepts of tyranny and corrupt authoritarian ideals. As a film with such rich context, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a brilliant marriage between the need to create art and to express struggle.
In the years since its release, Caligari has become a classic. Studied in various film classes, it represents some of the earliest strengths to emerge from the horror genre. The film’s technical creativity has gone on to inspire filmmakers in creating surreal, grim settings that elevate emotion; its efforts to examine psychology have inspired storytellers to venture further into the horrors of the mind. Equally as important, the film’s reflection of real world issues has become an essential element of the horror genre; today, horror still continues to be the leading artform in confronting the problems in our world.
As such an amazing medium that has impacted so many of our lives, it’s incredible to see how far horror cinema has come. With all the new and fascinating horror movies coming out each year, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is still fondly spoken of among the horror community. Even in 2020, the film still contains an element of eeriness; it provides an air of unease, slowly stirring its viewer into a nightmare.
Here we are 100 years later – not only is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari one of the most influential pictures in the horror genre, it also stands as a monumental cornerstone of film history.
