Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariis one of the most influential films in cinema history. Set in a small German town during a carnival, the story follows a mysterious hypnotist who unveils his eerie attraction, a sleepwalker said to predict the future. At night, he awakens to carry out the hypnotist’s dark commands.
With its jagged, dreamlike sets and chilling atmosphere, the film redefined how stories could be told on screen, leaving an indelible mark on the evolution of horror, film noir and gothic cinema. Wiene’s expressionist visual language enters into conversation with Hugo Max’s exhibition of paintingsThe Stanley Series on display at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre.
