Exploring the Evolution of 1920s Horror – A Nerd Horror Perspective
On Day 5 of the 365 Days of Horror I watched and wrote about the classic silent horror film, Nosferatu. Days 6-10 launched from that starting point through a deep dive into some of the most foundational and visually striking horror films of the 1920s. Each of these movies—The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), Häxan (1922), The Cat and the Canary (1927), Vampyr (1932, but rooted in the 1920s), and The Man Who Laughs (1928)—represents a different approach to horror, from psychological terror and gothic expressionism to documentary-style horror and proto-slasher mystery. Watching them back-to-back on consecutive days provided a fascinating perspective on how horror evolved during the silent era and how these early films continue to influence modern horror storytelling.
A Quick Look at the Films
Day 6: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
This film is the definition of German Expressionism, using exaggerated, nightmarish sets and distorted perspectives to tell a story of madness and manipulation. The plot follows Francis, a man investigating the eerie Dr. Caligari, whose sleepwalking assistant, Cesare, is suspected of committing murder. The film’s final twist, revealing that the story is told from the perspective of an unreliable narrator inside an asylum, makes it one of the earliest examples of psychological horror.
Day 7: Häxan (1922)
Part documentary, part dramatized horror film, Häxan is an exploration of medieval witch hunts and superstition. The film blends academic analysis with wild, surreal re-creations of demonic rituals, torture, and hysteria. Its daring imagery and shocking sequences were controversial at the time, but today, it stands as an early example of horror’s ability to critique societal fears and moral panics.
Day 8: The Cat and the Canary (1927)
This film introduced a sense of humor and playfulness to horror, making it a clear predecessor to later haunted house and slasher films. The story follows a group of heirs staying in a creepy mansion overnight, only to be tormented by eerie occurrences and the presence of an escaped lunatic known as “The Cat.” With its blend of suspense, comedy, and gothic atmosphere, this film helped establish the blueprint for horror-comedies and haunted house thrillers.
Day 9: Vampyr (1932, but deeply influenced by the 1920s silent era)
Dreyer’s Vampyr is a hypnotic, dreamlike take on vampire mythology. The film’s ghostly atmosphere, bizarre special effects, and minimal dialogue create a haunting, almost hallucinogenic experience. Unlike Nosferatu, which presents a physical, monstrous vampire, Vampyr leans into psychological horror and the idea of a creeping, unseen presence. Its eerie visuals and disorienting atmosphere make it a fascinating evolution of silent-era horror.
Day 10: The Man Who Laughs (1928)
A gothic melodrama with strong horror elements, The Man Who Laughs tells the tragic story of Gwynplaine, a man surgically disfigured with a permanent grin. While not a horror film in the strictest sense, the film’s eerie tone, striking cinematography, and emotional depth make it a crucial part of horror’s early visual lexicon. The influence of Gwynplaine’s grotesque smile can still be felt today, particularly in characters like the Joker from Batman.
Comparing and Contrasting These Horror Foundations
Watching these films in succession was like seeing the DNA of horror slowly come together. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Häxan explore horror through radical stylistic choices—one through surreal expressionism, the other through stark, almost documentary-like horror. The Cat and the Canary takes the eerie, gothic settings of its predecessors and injects humor and murder-mystery tropes, bridging the gap between silent horror and what would later become classic haunted house films. Meanwhile, Vampyr brings a deeply psychological element, embracing visual storytelling in ways that feel ahead of its time. Finally, The Man Who Laughs shows that horror isn’t just about monsters—it’s about the horror of human cruelty and tragedy, offering a more emotional, gothic approach to genre filmmaking.
From a nerd horror perspective, these films reveal how horror evolved in its earliest stages. They also show how different techniques—shadow play, exaggerated sets, grotesque imagery, and dreamlike narratives—were developed to compensate for the limitations of silent film and early sound experiments. Watching them today, it’s easy to see their fingerprints on everything from The Nightmare Before Christmas (with its Caligari-esque sets) to The Babadook (with its psychological horror themes echoing Vampyr).
Despite being nearly a century old, these films remain essential viewing for horror fans. They demonstrate the genre’s ability to evolve, adapt, and experiment—even in its earliest days. Caligari laid the groundwork for psychological horror, Häxan challenged taboos with its disturbing realism, The Cat and the Canary introduced horror-comedy elements, Vampyr blurred the lines between reality and nightmare, and The Man Who Laughs showed that horror isn’t just about monsters—it’s about the emotional terror of being an outsider.
If there’s one takeaway from watching these films back-to-back, it’s that horror has always been about more than just scares. It’s about pushing boundaries, experimenting with storytelling, and reflecting our deepest fears. And for a Nerd Horror fan, there’s nothing more exciting than watching those first steps unfold in the earliest days of cinema.
