THE HAUNTED CASTLE (1921, original title Schloss Vogelod, aka Castle Vogeloed) is another work from the legendary director F. W. Murnau, best known of course for the following year's NOSFERATU. This is another spooky and atmospheric little story, although anyone expecting an explicitly supernatural plot will be disappointed, so the title is a little misleading. The story sees a bunch of characters holed up at the titular location when another man arrives; a strange, friendless count who stands accused of the murder of his own brother. However, he protests his innocence and desires to clear his name...
In essence it's a murder mystery of the kind that later found popular in America and Britain in the shape of the 'old dark house' genre. Plenty of arguments and volatility from the assembled characters, but the horror is limited to the spooky surroundings and the odd dream sequence. I caught this in a high definition print on Youtube courtesy of Lumiere and it looks fantastic with the usual colour tinting drawing out the beauty of the cinematography. Slightly plotted, then, but a feast for the eyes.
In essence it's a murder mystery of the kind that later found popular in America and Britain in the shape of the 'old dark house' genre. Plenty of arguments and volatility from the assembled characters, but the horror is limited to the spooky surroundings and the odd dream sequence. I caught this in a high definition print on Youtube courtesy of Lumiere and it looks fantastic with the usual colour tinting drawing out the beauty of the cinematography. Slightly plotted, then, but a feast for the eyes.