Häxan
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Synopsis
sorcery and evil on screen, from representations of occultism and religious hypocrisy to a chilling witch hunt in the Middle Ages. Directed by and starring Benjamin Christensen as the Devil, Häxan mixes documentary and fiction forms to create an unsettling brew that prefigures everything from Gothic horror to the found footage film. This legendary horror film was released in numerous edits and this edition collects four such versions of the film for the first time in the UK, including a 2K restoration by the original production company Svensk Filmindustri.
Picture 9/10
Radiance Films presents Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan in a new limited edition, two-disc Blu-ray set. The restored 104-minute version is housed on the first dual-layer disc, presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p/24hz high-definition encode sourced from Svensk’s 2K restoration. The film retains its original Danish intertitles, with optional English subtitles. Though a UK release, the discs are region-free.
As with Criterion’s edition (sourced from the same restoration), the film looks stunning, thanks to an incredibly meticulous restoration. It’s remarkable how clean the image now appears, with only the faintest signs of damage—just a few minor marks remain. The new tinting, shifting between sepia, blue, and red depending on the setting, looks vibrant and well-saturated.
Where Radiance’s edition notably improves over Criterion’s is in the encode, and by a decent margin. Criterion’s transfer is far from bad—it still holds up well—but Radiance’s handling of the film’s grain is more refined, appearing more natural in motion (it's not just obvious from screen captures). As a result, Radiance’s image looks a touch cleaner, with sharper detail and a more organic film texture. It remains an exceptional presentation but with a notable edge over Criterion’s.
Audio 8/10
Being a silent film, Häxan comes with three musical scores, all presented in DTS-HD 5.1 surround: Matti Bye’s 2006 composition, along with scores by Bronnt Industries Kapital and Geoff Smith, both from 2007. Interestingly, Radiance spreads these across two discs—Bye’s score accompanies the film on the first disc, while the other two are presented as alternate tracks on the second disc, the film presentation sourced from the same Svensk restoration. The reasoning behind this isn’t entirely clear, though it’s possible these two scores are exclusive to the limited edition (assuming the standard release drops the second disc). Unlike Criterion, Radiance does not include Gillian B. Anderson’s 2001 score.
As expected, all three sound excellent—sharp, clean, and well-mixed, making full use of the surround channels to immerse the viewer. Bye’s score is the most traditional, while the other two take a more experimental approach in instrumentation, adding a playful edge while still feeling appropriate to the film. Each track is a worthy option, so the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Extras 10/10
Radiance Films has put together an impressively stacked edition of Häxan, even surpassing Criterion’s in terms of supplemental material. Some features are carried over, including the 8-minute introduction recorded by Benjamin Christensen for the film’s 1941 re-release. In it, Christensen explains why the film remains silent and why spoken dialogue wouldn’t work. Film scholar Casper Tybjerg, in his commentary for Criterion’s edition, notes that there were concerns at the time about releasing a silent film, leading to the decision to include this introduction.
Also returning is the 1968 version, Witchcraft Through the Ages, which can be selected alongside the original cut after choosing "Play" from the main menu. This alternate version, narrated by William S. Burroughs with a jazz score, runs 76 minutes—about half an hour shorter than the main feature. I had always assumed it had been significantly trimmed, but an essay in the included booklet clarifies that it only seems that way due to the removal of intertitles, with Burroughs’ narration replacing them. The beatnik energy, from Burroughs’ distinctive rhythm to Jean-Luc Ponty’s score, makes it a fun curiosity, though it’s not the version I find myself revisiting often.
As a bonus, this version appears to be sourced from a new 2K scan and presented in high-definition. While the scan and encode are excellent (even the grayscale looks strong), restoration work is minimal, so damage remains heavy. That said, it’s still a massive upgrade over Criterion’s version.
The rest of the supplements are exclusive to this edition, beginning with a new audio commentary by horror experts Guy Adams and A.K. Benedict. While I ultimately still prefer Tybjerg’s (admittedly drier) track from Criterion’s edition, Adams and Benedict offer a solid discussion, approaching the film as a horror work made before the genre truly existed. They cover the film’s production history, its director’s background, and the real-life inspirations behind its imagery, framing it within the political and cultural contexts of the time. They also explore the film’s visual effects, use of stop motion, and horror aesthetics before touching on its release and the controversies it stirred. It’s a well-rounded track that complements Tybjerg’s.
Additional archival materials include 12 minutes of outtakes and 2 minutes of costume tests. The outtakes consist of test footage Christensen shot for Häxan and possibly other projects (Criterion included similar material, though featuring different footage). The costume tests showcase the designs for one of the film’s creatures, which hold up remarkably well for their time.
Radiance has also recorded a new 14-minute interview with Guillermo del Toro, who recalls first seeing Witchcraft Through the Ages on a VHS from a cinema club where members exchanged tapes. He discusses Häxan as a fascinating historical artifact that still works, particularly in its humor. As always, del Toro offers an insightful perspective, and it’s a shame he wasn’t brought in for a full commentary.
Next is the visual essay For Satan: The Convert’s Guide to Häxan by Vito A. Rowlands. Keeping with the film’s silent nature, Rowlands presents his analysis as text over clips, examining its progressive and regressive aspects—how it critiques misogyny while still reflecting a “painfully patriarchal” perspective. The essay also explores Freud’s influence, the origins of certain expressions (“cash cow”), and, yes, the not-so-subtle symbolism behind all that churning. With an additional look at its release history, it’s a thoroughly engaging and fun 11-minute piece.
The second dual-layer disc then features alternate versions of the film. The 104-minute version, sourced from the same 2K Svensk restoration, is here again but paired with the alternate scores by Bronnt Industries Kapital and Geoff Smith. Also included is The Esoteric Cut, running 85 minutes with English intertitles and a score by Lawrence Leherissey. According to the booklet, this presentation of this version was assembled through a Kickstarter campaign, using various sourced prints (one reportedly being a "copy of a copy" where someone filmed a screening, though only as a reference). Even after reading the essay on the multiple versions, I’m still unclear on its exact purpose, but it appears to be an attempt to reconstruct the 1968 Witchcraft Through the Ages as a silent film with English intertitles—though they’re rather sparse. The presentation is a bit rough, featuring shimmering and jaggies, but this seems to be inherent to the source master. An interesting curio, though it feels to be more of an academic exercise than an essential version.
Also included is the rare 1990 French version, running 82 minutes. Taking its cue from Witchcraft Through the Ages (even keeping the title), it’s a bit playful, but is unmistakably 90s European, featuring narration by Jean-Pierre Kalfon and a Euro-Techno score. It shouldn’t work at all, yet its sheer oddness makes it all the more fascinating. Radiance sourced this from a VHS, as it was too obscure to find in a better format. Again, more of a curiosity, but absolutely worth at least one viewing.
Radiance then packages all of this beautifully. The two discs are housed in one of their Scanavo cases, accompanied by six postcards featuring stills from the film. That, along with a thick 78-page booklet, is enclosed in a sturdy cardboard slipcase. The booklet is a standout, packed with thoughtful essays and historical materials. It includes extracts from the original pressbook, followed by an essay on the film and its director by Pamela Hutchinson and a piece questioning which genre the film fits written by Daniel Bird. Kat Ellinger contributes a lengthy piece on the legacy of witches in horror cinema, while Brad Stevens examines the various versions of Häxan. There’s also a reprint of Tom Milne’s review of the 1968 version (which he suspects Christensen would have enjoyed), notes on the scores, and details on the restoration of The Esoteric Cut. It’s an extensive, content-rich booklet—one of the best Radiance has put together so far.
Though it doesn’t include everything from Criterion’s edition, and I slightly prefer Tybjerg’s commentary, this is undoubtedly the most comprehensive release of Häxan to date. It examines the film from every conceivable angle and packs in alternate versions that, while varying in quality, are fascinating to explore. A superb set.
Closing
Radiance has assembled the most comprehensive Häxan release to date, featuring a wealth of supplements, multiple alternate versions, and a superb new digital presentation.
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