“Everything in this masterpiece contributes to its unity: the absolute mastery of editing and rhythm; slow motion, superimpositions, tracking shots, the mobile camera all play their roles and never gratuitously. The photographic quality, worthy of the most learned German operators, the lighting of the sets which envelops them in mystery, the sets themselves, neither realistic nor stylized, but as if sketched; the acting neither realistic nor expressionist, and yet adapted to the fantastic, to the violence; to the pauses; to the blur.” La chute de la maison Usher [The Fall of the House of Usher] (Jean Epstein, 1928)
Oct
21
A rapid tracking shot along a dark corridor. Dead leaves follow the camera (via). DPs: Georges Lucas & Jean Lucas.
A favourite horror film adapted from a book or short story*
– Henri Langlois, via
A groundbreaking expressionist interpretation of Poe's inner horrors. Many of the tropes so common in later horror films, are fully fledged and present here.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for October is horror-themed as opposed to date-based, and is all about favourites. Expect non-horror and films I believe to be relevant instead.