Preview: Häxan (Bluray)

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.

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LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

2K restoration by Svensk Filmindustri, presented with three optional scores, by Matti Bye (2006), Bronnt Industries Kapital (2007), and Geoff Smith (2007)

Witchcraft through the Ages – an alternate cut of the film featuring narration by William S. Boroughs and soundtrack by Jean-Luc Ponty (1968, 77 mins)

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 (1990, 82 mins)

Introduction by director Benjamin Christensen (1941, 8 mins)

Outtakes (1922, 12 mins)

Recently discovered costume screen test (1922, 2 mins)

Visual essay by Vito A. Rowlands, author of the BFI Film Classics edition of Häxan (2024)

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

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow

Six postcards of original promotional stills

Limited edition 80-page book featuring new writing by Pamela Hutchinson, Daniel Bird, Kat Ellinger, Brad Stevens plus archival writing and extracts from the press book

Limited edition of 6000 copies, presented in rigid box and full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Brett Summers

Brett founded CultFaction.com in 2014 a website and podcast that deals with cult film and tv. He also has a strong interest in grappling martial arts both as a practitioner and as a historian.