THE VAULT

Häxan (1922) Explained: Beyond the Blood

Scare Score: 7.7/100

But isn’t superstition still rampant among us?

The Premise

Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Benjamin Christensen's legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. But the film itself is far from serious-- instead it's a witches' brew of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous.

Why It Terrifies Us

Categorized under Documentary Horror, Folk Horror, Silent Film, Häxan taps into fundamental fears. The 7.7/100 Scare Score is well-earned. The themes of witch, superstition, insanity continually haunt viewers long after the credits roll.

Into The Vault

Ready to dig deeper? The ScreamDesk Vault connects you to the architecture of fear.