Vampyr (DVD)

A review of the Masters of Cinema DVD, available for £12 from amazon. This is an arty horror film from 1932. Made in France by Carl Theodor Dreyer, one of the giants of cinema, it's a rare example of a horror film that even the sniffiest of critics will praise. Horror and arthouse met surprisingly often in the silent era (in Europe, anyway); The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is both the first well-known horror film and the first well-known arthouse film. Although sound film was almost universal in 1931, Vampyr feels like a silent, with very little dialogue and a strong emphasis on visuals. A chap called Allan Gray gets involved with a pair of sisters, one ...  Read the complete review