Nowhere near as good or striking as Nosferatu or Sunrise, it's still a pretty intriguing silent film with a plot and a few moments that did surprise me. It's pretty clear right away that things aren't what they seem, but a creepy performance by the actor who plays the Count helps fuel suspicion in both the characters and the audience. Similarly, the actress playing the Baroness is mysterious and "haunted" enough to let us know that there is more under the surface, but not revealing totally what it is. The scene in which she confesses that she "wanted to see something evil" is genuinely disturbing, in a way that only a silent film can be. Smartly Murneau didn't (or couldn't) depict the actual murder, leaving it up to us to imagine it. But based on the performances of those involved, you gather that it must have been rather grisly.
Not exactly a horror film, but an interesting interpretation of a very generic title that could have been about anything. Definitely kept my attention.
Not exactly a horror film, but an interesting interpretation of a very generic title that could have been about anything. Definitely kept my attention.