Carl Theodor Dreyer, the Danish director, made his mark on horror with this film, very loosely adapted from Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla. Filmed through filters to give it a hazy look, the film is structured as a kind of nightmare where anything can happen. Far more emphasis is given to creating a disturbing atmosphere than toward over-the-top thrills, which makes for a paranoid, spooky viewing experience. (One can see this film's influence on Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula, to name but one.)
Filmed in German, French and English versions, only the German audio survives. But very little dialogue is spoken through the film, so this is not distracting. Dreyer clearly believed that many silent film techniques would still work in the sound era.
Criterion Collection is known for their high-quality releases, and Vampyr is no different. It also contains numerous special features, including commentary, essays on Dreyer and his style, and a collectible booklet.
Pre-order yours for October 3
Just in time for Halloween!
No comments:
Post a Comment