10 Great Horror Movies of the Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic era of cinema has always been of interest to me and has also been one of my main eras of study whilst on my M.A and undergraduate degrees. I have been fascinated by the blends of light and dark, the chosen tinting colour schemes, the change from orchestral scores to talking pictures, the flatlands, the societal impact, the metaphors and the atmospheres. It is true that for the Weimar Republic, horror films had been born out of societal change, panic and guilt. If you would like to know more about the society that bore the first horror era of cinema then read this article I wrote about it.

I was originally only going to write about five movies but I opened my DVD drawer and had a panic that I could not possible choose between certain films and so, I have bumped it up to ten. Have a great Halloween and I hope you watch some of the movies from the list below.

10 Great Horror Movies of the Weimar Republic

10. Faust (1926)

Directed by the great F.W Murnau and based on the German folktale as adapted by Goethe, this film is not very frightening as it makes us realise that making a deal with the devil may not be a great idea. Filled with quite intense scenes including the inspiration behind Fantasia's Night on Bald Mountain, this movie is a great watch on Halloween if you want a good mix between satire and horror.

9. Waxworks (1924)

Starring Emil Jannings and Conrad Veidt, two big names in the German Expressionist era and the earlier of the two we won't bother discussing - this film conducts itself around a man who visits a museum and looks at waxworks of three controversial figures. The episode with Conrad Veidt is where he plays Ivan the Terrible. It is quite a brilliant example of fantasy-based horror from the German Expressionist era and has an interesting story too. It's possibly one of my favourites from Conrad Veidt himself and a great film by the director Paul Leni.

8. The Haunted Castle (1921)

This one is quite heavy. Directed by F.W Murnau and a brilliant example of early psychological horror. Set in the claustrophobic realms of a mansion in the rain, things are justly uncovered as accusations of murder are thrown around and arguments ensue. Guests on other guests' toes like hot coals and people reveal that not all things are as they seem to be. Directed by the great F.W Murnau and told in five acts, this is a wonderful addition to your Halloween season.

7. Vampyr (1932)

Complete with weird scenes and visions of ghosts, this haunting film from the latter half of the Weimar Republic era was released only one year before it ended. Directed by the C.T Dreyer and starring Julian West, this horror movie is a descent into madness as shadows come alive and the night seems more terrifying every second it moves along. As murder engulfs the scene and notes of 'To Be Opened Upon My Death' rest unsettingly on the table - this movie is a brilliant addition to any Halloween movie night.

6. M (1931)

One of the most well-known films of the German Expressionist era, this thriller was directed by Fritz Lang and is based on the folklore of the child-snatcher. A criminal wanders the streets and makes the town a dangerous place to be a child and, as the police have no luck tracing him, the streets are deserted by playing children. As we move on in the story, we witness things that should not happen and scenes of sheer intensity. Starring Peter Lorre in one of his greatest roles, this is an amazing addition to any Halloween viewing with all of its atmosphere and tension.

5. Der Golem (1920)

Based on the Jewish folktale of the Golem, a man constructed out of clay and brought to life to defend and serve, this silent horror film is directed by Paul Wegener, Der Golem is a fine example of Weimar Cinema. From a saviour to erratic behaviour, Der Golem is a psychological monster movie for the ages in its way and a folk horror tale in the next. Oh and, the monster may not really be who you're thinking after all. Visually stunning and timeless in its nature, Der Golem is a great film with a lot of action and atmosphere to complete your Halloween evening.

4. Nosferatu (1922)

Monster movies have always been of fascination to us with the Universal Monsters of the 1930s and 40s being some incredible achievements of cinema, but Nosferatu (1922) has to be one of the best known of the bunch. Loosely based on the story of Dracula by Bram Stoker, it was initially sued for copyrights breaches and all copies of the film were ordered destroyed. With such a history of a film forced underground, how could it not become a classic of horror cinema? Vampiric, terrifying and atmospheric, this film has all of it. Witness the birth of the monster movie with Nosferatu by F.W Murnau.

3. The Hands of Orlac (1924)

A weird twist on a murder mystery when a piano player is injured in a train accident, his hands are ruined and regrafted. Unfortunately, those hands may not be the ones he wants. Paranoid with fear and guilt, The Hands of Orlac is a tale of monstrosity without an actual monster, but the belief that there may be one around. A murder, an accident and a love story in the midst of it - this is one of my favourites to watch on Halloween because it is so brilliantly acted.

2. The Man Who Laughs (1928)

Probably one of the more aesthetically terrifying films of the Weimar Cinema era - this is actually a tale of a man just trying to fit in. A more upsetting tale of the time, it is based on the book by Victor Hugo and stars Conrad Veidt. Directed by the great Paul Leni, this film is a great and heartwarming story about a man who seeks admiration in other forms than just a freak to be paraded around. With intense scenes and a hell of a lot of dark and eerie atmospheres, this film is a great love story to watch this Halloween if you're looking for a gothic romance.

Honorable Mentions!

• Michael (1924)
• Destiny (1921)
• Secrets of a Soul (1926)

1. The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)

Possibly the greatest example of psychological horror in the movies of its own era and in the movies of the rest of history, this film is about a man named Dr Caligari and his somnambulist, Cesare. A frightening thought of this terrifying gothic creature making its way through your window at night is probably enough to make you sleep with the lights on, but more than that is a mysterious murder and that weird twist ending that makes everything really fall into place. Probably one of the greatest films ever made, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is creepy as it is absolutely brilliant. A true horror film of the ages for a timeless Halloween.

Conclusion

So, after all of that, I hope you have a great Halloween and watch some really scary movies. It may seem like they are really far off, but Weimar Cinema has had such a huge impact on what we watch today and when you watch these films, I hope you realise how inspiring they have been.