The film starts with a young man, Franzis, sitting on a bench with an older man in a park. When a woman passes by in a trance-like state, Franzis tells the old man the woman is his fiancée, Jane. He said they've been through a lot, and then tells his story.
Franzis and his friend Alan decided to visit the fair, where all kinds of entertainment was offered. The mysterious Dr Caligari showcased his "spectacle" at the fair. This involved a 23-year old somnambulist named Cesare. At the show, Dr Caligari wakes Cesare, and dares the audience to ask him any question.
This sets in motion a series of events. That night, mysterious crimes start in the village, and Franzis vows to get to the bottom of the dreadful deeds. The police also decide to investigate, and find out more about Dr Caligari and Cesare. Jane, Franzis' girlfriend, gets caught in the middle of the strange goings-on in the village.
The film's production design is most unusual and unlike anything I've seen before. The buildings are oddly shaped and the imagery is nightmarish. The film literally feels like a nightmare from which there is no escape.
'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' must have been scary back in 1920. Even today, the events and the appearance of the film and characters still makes for a creepy watch. And there's even a twist ending...
Franzis and his friend Alan decided to visit the fair, where all kinds of entertainment was offered. The mysterious Dr Caligari showcased his "spectacle" at the fair. This involved a 23-year old somnambulist named Cesare. At the show, Dr Caligari wakes Cesare, and dares the audience to ask him any question.
This sets in motion a series of events. That night, mysterious crimes start in the village, and Franzis vows to get to the bottom of the dreadful deeds. The police also decide to investigate, and find out more about Dr Caligari and Cesare. Jane, Franzis' girlfriend, gets caught in the middle of the strange goings-on in the village.
The film's production design is most unusual and unlike anything I've seen before. The buildings are oddly shaped and the imagery is nightmarish. The film literally feels like a nightmare from which there is no escape.
'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' must have been scary back in 1920. Even today, the events and the appearance of the film and characters still makes for a creepy watch. And there's even a twist ending...