The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari will be remembered primarily for its visuals, individual shots, and the play of light and shadow, which can still evoke a sense of the terrifying, unexpected, horrific, and insane even today. The expressionism that emanates from the setting at every turn highlights how intertwined the visual arts were with cinema at that time. (20/01/2014)

The forefather of all cinematic twists, visually one of the most original films ever, the cornerstone of cinematic horror and the best German movie of all time. Don't you think that this is easily worth five stars, despite the somewhat slow start, and even without the knowledge that it is one of the world's most important classics? P.S.: I watched the longer version that is listed here, but for comparison I also intend to get the one that lasts less than an hour. (16/03/2008)

I put off watching The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari for a really long time because I thought it was a silent film and I just prefer sound films - and even though I saw the edited version, which was enhanced with music, the film ended up surprising me beyond my expectations. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari artfully blends horror, action and detective fiction, making it – at least in my opinion – appealing to contemporary audiences. Moreover, the whole thing is wrapped up in an eerily beautiful set with distinctively made-up characters. A textbook example of German expressionism in film! (25/05/2011)

Expressionism speaking not only with the proverbially exalted facial expressions and accentuation of the eyes, but above all with delirically twisted and uncertain scenery. Is the story of a mad doctor just a fool's dream? Is that reality? An extremely impressive work that, thanks to its unique visuality (and the resulting atmosphere), does not lose its qualities. Film as art. Art as a film. (28/01/2004)

Madness simply oozes from the Cabinet. Dark distorted images (the sets seem to have fallen out of a brain afflicted with a persecution complex and a twisted perception of reality) in the most classic sense. The incidental music is extraordinarily suggestive. A jazzy bizarreness combined with various sounds and complemented by a symphony orchestra. Incredibly intense. (06/12/2011)