This film is a must-see for lovers of silent cinema and is the first great film of the horror genre. That does not mean it was the first. While among the earliest horror tales, I say it is the first "great" one because it is a full-length film and has excellent production values. In fact, in many ways it's a wonderful film because it has such strange and over-the-top scenery representing the German Expressionist movement--with very surreal scenery and fantastic geometric designs. You just have to see it to believe it--it's that weird and original, plus it really adds to the dream-like quality of the film. Also, it rises to the level of greatness due to the fact that the film is not just a horror film but goes much deeper. I have always felt that great sci-fi or horror always has this greater depth and is usually a metaphor for modern life.
The story is about the evil Dr. Caligari who is a traveling showman who uses his "somnambulist" (i.e., guy in a permanent sleepwalking state) to do his evil bidding. The account is given by a man who is trying to warn everyone about the doctor's evil plans. But, what more plot there is I will leave up to you so as not to spoil it.
The only negative about the film at all is that it is a bit plodding here and there and the emotion is a little over-the-top even for the silent era. But, you also must understand that when the movie was being made in 1919-1920, this film STILL represented an improvement over the standard drama of the day and over-acting was more tolerable then than it is now.
The story is about the evil Dr. Caligari who is a traveling showman who uses his "somnambulist" (i.e., guy in a permanent sleepwalking state) to do his evil bidding. The account is given by a man who is trying to warn everyone about the doctor's evil plans. But, what more plot there is I will leave up to you so as not to spoil it.
The only negative about the film at all is that it is a bit plodding here and there and the emotion is a little over-the-top even for the silent era. But, you also must understand that when the movie was being made in 1919-1920, this film STILL represented an improvement over the standard drama of the day and over-acting was more tolerable then than it is now.