The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Collection: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

What is German Expressionism? This was an art movement in the early 20^th century that focused more on projecting the emotions of the characters or artist. Instead of having landscapes, designs, and architecture based on the reality we exist in, this movement focuses on crafting them in a way to capture feeling and emotion instead. There were a few filmmakers who were leaning heavily into this movement like Fritz Lang and F.W. Murnau. But one film from director Robert Wiene crafted the blueprint for this new type of cinema. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. 

How does Caligari embody this revolutionary approach to artistic expression which has made such an impact on artists for over a century? The first aspects you will notice are landscapes and production design. The matte paintings of the village in which the film takes place are abstract to say the least. There are zero straight lines, and the builds are contorted and bent in the most unexpected ways. The use of black is heavily influential on the overall visual experience of the film. The walls of buildings have brush strokes of blackened coloring creating a shadier and more overbearing experience. The streets are painted in patterns but still utilizing black to emphasize the darkness that shrouds over this film and all the characters. The dark, warped reality of the village is certainly connected to the warped perspective of some of the key characters.

How about some of the character designs? We have the titular scientist, Dr. Caligari, who has some defining elements which have made an impact on characters since. The wild white hair is one for sure other scientists have had. Those thick circular frames of his glasses are so specific and interesting (just look at the similar character in Lang’s Metropolis). But the character who certainly has made the biggest impactful on pop culture is somnambulist Cesare. The lean frame and robotic movements of this eerie character most notably is the influence for Edward Scissorhands (we will get back to Tim Burton in a minute). But this full black outfit, bobbed hair, and murderous look are all iconic at this point as we will recognize Cesare against the backdrops of this dark and warped cityscape that has become so synonymous with this film. The make-up for both characters is all black and white and creates such hard features that pop out. This is a theatrical approach to create more expression. The approach is contrary to naturalism and has certainly influenced characters with darker and unnerving designs (mostly in the horror genre of which The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a forebear). 

So…do you think Burton likes German Expressionism? Burton is certainly one of the biggest students of the German Expressionism game. His Gotham for Batman Returns is a modern German Expressionist dream with the harsh black and white, abstract and exaggerated constructions, and gothic sensibilities. The climactic confrontation with the Joker in 1989’s Batman is also ripped from films like Cailgari and Metropolis. Obviously one of the most iconic characters in Burton’s cinema is Edward and his basic design is descended from Wiene’s Cesare. Beetlejuice has plenty it borrowed from Caligari is some of the production design from the house to the cemetery where our titular demon lurks. Then you have The Nightmare Before Christmas…not a lot needs to be said. David Fincher and The Coen Brothers have their own influences shown off in films like Se7en, Barton Fink, and Fargo. 

How influential is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari? This launched one of the most iconic and famous artistic movements in film (especially in early cinema). Some of the most beloved directors of today have been influenced by the work of Wiene and others. Even Nicolas Cage is a huge fan and named dropped this horror flick multiple times in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. We might not even have Hot Topic today if it were for the gothic influences of Caligari and other German Expressionist films. That is staying power and widespread pop culture influence for sure.