Silent Demons

HAXAN: WITCHCRAFT THROUGH THE AGES-1922-Another incredible silent movie!

Although it purports to be a documentary and there is a narrator who uses various pictures and charts to tell the story this in reality is a great horror film!!

Told in several episodes it traces the history of witchcraft, witch burning and how confessions were coerced from the witnesses and victims. Mind blowing scenes of hell include scary demons, a baby sacrifice and worshipers literally kissing the devil's ass. It's depictions explaining the various ways of torture are graphic for the time. Pretty shocking stuff for 1922! No wonder it was banned in the US and heavily censored in other countries.

This Danish production was the brainchild of Benjamin Christensen (who portrays the devil) a contemporary of fellow countryman the great Carl Theodor Dreyer (who made his own witchcraft trial movie in 1943). Two slightly different versions appeared later. One in 1968 had added narration by William S. Burroughs. Director Christensen later came to the US and made MOCKERY, a film about the Russian revolution, often considered one of Lon Chaney's weakest MGM films. After several other misfires he returned to his native Denmark.

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Hell!

THE SINNERS OF HELL (aka JINOGU; HELL)-1960- A young student Shiro is out driving with his very evil friend Tamura when they kill a drunk Yakuza member in a hit and run. The victim's mother and girlfriend vow revenge but even without their interference Shiro begins to see his life deteriorate little by little. There's a lot of talk until Shiro (and the rest of the characters) goes to hell and meets Enma, The King of Hell! There he gets a tour where he finds out everyone he knew are not want they seem to be and get punished for their Earthly sins in incredible early gore scenes. A negligent doctor is sawed into pieces, a corrupt police man has his hands cut off, another "sinner" is flayed alive, there's a river of blood and a burning wheel. The bizarre lighting, colors and symbolism make me believe Coffin Joe saw this before making any of his own. "Hell! This is hell!".

Director Nobuo Nakagawa scores with this one!

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