Bay Area digital-effects wizard David Lee Fisher offers an enticing visual remix of the 1920 German expressionist classic with this innovative updating that places contemporary performers against scanned backdrops of the original and offers a detailed new script to create an exciting new vision. As the annual fair descends upon the sleepy burg of Holstenwall, Germany, Francis and his best friend Alan are unwittingly enticed into attending an exhibition by malevolent hypnotist Dr. Caligari that
will have a sinister, life-changing effect on the pair. When the dreadful doctor awakens psychic sleepwalker Cesare (Hellboy's Doug Jones) from his profound slumber to predict Alan's future, the resulting prophecy is endlessly more terrifying than the frightened friends could have ever imagined. In the days that follow, the citizens of Holstenwell fall prey to a grisly series of unsolved murders that prompts Francis to launch a thorough investigation. With the killer fast closing in on Francis' unsuspecting fiancée Jane, the brave husband-to-be must uncover the secret of Dr. Caligari's strange powers before his one and only love suffers a particularly grim fate. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
An undeniably clever commingling of a new cast (and spoken dialogue) with a silent classic. But pic fails to engage consistently on its own terms, and begins to coast on novelty value around the midway point.
In his semi-remake of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the director David Lee Fisher has accomplished something rather startling: he has out-disoriented the original.
Although technically impressive, the remake is dramatically inert, as the set becomes a motionless backdrop to theatrical line readings instead of a pulsing manifestation of diseased minds.
Interesting only for about as long as it takes to realize that Fisher has honored Weine's expressionist aesthetic but hasn't improved the original's creaky plotline.
Fisher's dialogue draws heavily on the original film's intertitles and script directions and the addition of sound is a plus for moviegoers uncomfortable with the artificial embarrassment of silence.
Sort of pointless little endeavor. This remake of the German Expressionist Silent classic film uses images of the original sets and CG to put new actors in what is essentially a shot for shot remake with new dialogue and sound. The film is pretty, but not original in anyway...I suggest watching the original, unless
you are somehow abhorrent to the idea of silent pictures.
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