Häxan / Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922/1968) (DVD)

Since its premiere in 1922, Benjamin Christensen's exploration of the role of superstition in medieval minds has caused outrage and protest from both the general public and religious groups. Dramatising satanic activities and rituals including the ways in which suspected witches were tortured and killed, Häxan is a deliriously imaginative masterpiece. Not until its re-release in 1941 did the director earn belated fame and respect, proof that this genre-defying documentary was far ahead of its time. In 1968 the film won further praise and a whole new audience when it was re-released with a William Burroughs narration, under the title 'Witchcraft through the Ages'. This release includes both the Burroughs-narrated shorted version and the original film for which two new scores have been created, one by composer Geoff Smith performed on hammered dulcimer and the second offering a dynamic score by UK electronic group, Bronnt Industries Kapital.

Häxan (1922, 1.33:1, 105 mins, Tinted B&W)
• Digital speed-corrected transfer of the Swedish Film Institute’s tinted restoration
• Original Danish Premiere soundtrack (Dolby Digital 5.0)
• Newly conceived Bronnt Industries Kapital soundtrack
(Dolby Digital 2.0 & 5.1)
• Newly conceived Geoff Smith soundtrack (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Witchcraft through the Ages (1968, 1.33:1, 76 mins, B&W)
• Narrated by William S. Burroughs, with a soundtrack featuring Jean-Luc Ponty (Dolby Digital 2.0)