“The Phantom Carriage” may very well be the first horror film in movie history.
The 1921 Swedish film was written and directed by Victor Sjöström, a pioneer in the Swedish film industry of the early 20th Century. It continues our ongoing series of reviewing films that are 100 years old.
As a horror writer, I loved the concept. The last person to die on New Year’s Eve is required to drive death’s carriage for the following year. It’s a genesis for a show that I loved “Dead Like Me” and quite ahead of its time. Sjöström, who also stars as David Holm – a drunkard who dies as the clock is striking twelve – uses flashbacks and double exposures to tell the eerie tale.
Victor Sjöström and Tore Svennberg in “The Phantom Carriage”
The special effects are obviously sub par, but effective nonetheless. The scene where David Holm is killed, and his spirit emerges from the body is amazing and would look great even by today’s standards. I would love to talk with Sjöström about his vision and the tactics he used. Other aspects are unintentionally spooky, with some chilling sounds such as the screeching wheels from the carriage working at setting the ambiance.
It’s Swedish, so there are double subtitles. That can make watching and reading a bit rough for the (shockingly) long 107 minute run time. And of course the typical parlor music that plays throughout offers nothing in the way of positives.
“The Phantom Carriage” is a nice treat for cinematic history buffs. It’s a perfect warmup for the horror movie season as it displays the early forms of the art of scary.
