Haxan (Limited Special, Region Free)

 

Häxan

A series of eerie vignettes depict images of sorcery and evil on screen, from representations of occultism and religious hypocrisy to a chilling witch hunt in the Middle Ages. Directed by and starring Benjamin Christensen as the Devil, Häxan mixes documentary and fiction forms to create an unsettling brew that prefigures everything from Gothic horror to the found footage film. This legendary horror film was released in numerous edits and this edition collects four such versions of the film for the first time in the UK, including a 2K restoration by the original production company Svensk Filmindustri.

SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES

• Disc 1: 2K restoration by Svensk Filmindustri, presented with a score by Matti Bye (2006)

• Witchcraft through the Ages - an alternate cut of the film featuring narration by William S. Burroughs and soundtrack by Jean-Luc Ponty, newly transferred in 2K from a 16mm dupe negative (1968, 77 mins)

• Introduction by director Benjamin Christensen (1941, 8 mins)

• Outtakes - a reel of test footage shot by Benjamin Christensen featuring scenes for Häxan, Hævnens Nat [Night of Revenge] and other work by the filmmaker (1922, 12 mins)

• Recently discovered costume screen test (1922, 2 mins) 

• Appreciation by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (2024, 14 mins)

• For Satan: The Convert’s Guide to Häxan - A visual essay by Vito A. Rowlands, author of the BFI Film Classics edition of Häxan (2024, 12 mins)

• Audio commentary by horror experts Guy Adams and A.K. Benedict (2024)

• Disc 2: 2K restoration by Svensk Filmindustri, presented with scores by Bronnt Industries Kapital (2007), and Geoff Smith (2007) 

• Häxan - The Esoteric Cut - an alternate cut of the film featuring English intertitles and soundtrack by Lawrence Leherissey (Date unknown, 84 mins) 

• Witchcraft through the Ages - a French version of the film featuring narration by Jean-Pierre Kalfon, sourced from the best surviving VHS (1990, 82 mins)

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow