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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (2005 film)
Encyclopedia
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a 2005 independent film
, and a remake of the 1920 silent film of the same name
. It was directed by David Lee Fisher and released in the U.S.
at the ScreamFest Film Festival on October 22, where it won three prizes - the Audience Choice Award, Best Cinematography and Best Special Effects.
" in which the body of the plot is presented as a flashback, as told by Francis.
The narrator, Francis, and his friend Alan visit a carnival in the village where they see Dr. Caligari and Cesare, whom the doctor is displaying as an attraction. Caligari brags that Cesare can answer any question he is asked. When Alan asks Cesare how long he has to live, Cesare tells Alan that he will die tomorrow at dawn — a prophecy which turns out to be fulfilled.
Francis, along with his girlfriend Jane, investigate Caligari and Cesare, which eventually leads to Jane's kidnapping by Cesare. Caligari orders Cesare to kill Jane, but the hypnotized slave refuses after her beauty captivates him. He carries Jane out of her house, leading Jane's father and brother on a chase. Cesare is stabbed to death after being pursued by Jane's brother, and Francis discovers that Caligari had created an illusion of Cesare to distract him.
Francis discovers that "Caligari" is actually the head of the local insane asylum, and with the help of his colleagues discovers that he is obsessed with the story of a medieval Dr. Caligari, who used a somnambulist to murder people as a traveling act. After being confronted with the dead Cesare, Caligari breaks down and reveals his mania and is imprisoned in his own asylum.
The "twist ending" reveals that Francis' flashback is actually his fantasy: The man he claims is Caligari is indeed his doctor in the asylum, who, after this revelation of the source of his patient's delusion, claims to be able to cure him.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
, and a remake of the 1920 silent film of the same name
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a 1920 silent horror film directed by Robert Wiene from a screenplay by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. It is one of the most influential of German Expressionist films and is often considered one of the greatest horror movies of the silent era. This movie is cited as...
. It was directed by David Lee Fisher and released in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the ScreamFest Film Festival on October 22, where it won three prizes - the Audience Choice Award, Best Cinematography and Best Special Effects.
Plot
The plot is largely similar to that of the original film with extra dialogue scenes. The film tells the story of the deranged Dr. Caligari and his faithful sleepwalking Cesare and their connection to a string of murders in a German mountain village, Holstenwall. The movie features a "frame storyFrame story
A frame story is a literary technique that sometimes serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, whereby an introductory or main narrative is presented, at least in part, for the purpose of setting the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories...
" in which the body of the plot is presented as a flashback, as told by Francis.
The narrator, Francis, and his friend Alan visit a carnival in the village where they see Dr. Caligari and Cesare, whom the doctor is displaying as an attraction. Caligari brags that Cesare can answer any question he is asked. When Alan asks Cesare how long he has to live, Cesare tells Alan that he will die tomorrow at dawn — a prophecy which turns out to be fulfilled.
Francis, along with his girlfriend Jane, investigate Caligari and Cesare, which eventually leads to Jane's kidnapping by Cesare. Caligari orders Cesare to kill Jane, but the hypnotized slave refuses after her beauty captivates him. He carries Jane out of her house, leading Jane's father and brother on a chase. Cesare is stabbed to death after being pursued by Jane's brother, and Francis discovers that Caligari had created an illusion of Cesare to distract him.
Francis discovers that "Caligari" is actually the head of the local insane asylum, and with the help of his colleagues discovers that he is obsessed with the story of a medieval Dr. Caligari, who used a somnambulist to murder people as a traveling act. After being confronted with the dead Cesare, Caligari breaks down and reveals his mania and is imprisoned in his own asylum.
The "twist ending" reveals that Francis' flashback is actually his fantasy: The man he claims is Caligari is indeed his doctor in the asylum, who, after this revelation of the source of his patient's delusion, claims to be able to cure him.
Cast
- Judson Pearce MorganJudson Pearce MorganJudson Pearce Morgan is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. Morgan has been married to actress Kelly Overton since April 2004.-Career:...
as Francis Geist. - Daamen J. Krall as Dr. Daamen Caligari.
- Doug JonesDoug Jones (actor)Doug Jones is an American film and television actor best known to science fiction, fantasy, and horror fans for his various roles playing non-human characters, often in heavy makeup, in films and television series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth and Fantastic Four: Rise...
as Cesare. - Lauren Birkell as Jane Stern.
- Neil HopkinsNeil HopkinsNeil Edward Hopkins is an American television and film actor. He is a trained actor and singer; best known for his portrayal of Charlie's heroin-addicted brother Liam on Lost.-Early life:Hopkins was born in Trenton, New Jersey...
as Alan. - William Gregory LeeWilliam Gregory LeeWilliam Gregory Lee is an American actor.His first prominent role was as Virgil on Xena: Warrior Princess...
as Joseph Stern. - Randy Mulkey as Inspector.
- Time WintersTime WintersTimothy G. "Time" Winters is an American television actor and voice actor. He also provided Boc's voice in the video game Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. He replaced Victor Griffiths in Amadeus on Broadway, and played King Pellinore in the national tour of Camelot with Michael York/Lou...
as Dr. Gabriel Stern. - Richard HerdRichard HerdRichard Herd, Jr. is an American actor in television and film. He is well known in the science fiction community for his role in the 1983 NBC miniseries V and the 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle, as John, the Visitors' Supreme Commander...
as Commissioner Hans Raab. - Scott Lincoln as Criminal.
- Tim RussTim RussTimothy Darrell "Tim" Russ is an American actor, film director, screenwriter and musician. He is known for his roles on Star Trek: Voyager, as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, Samantha Who?, as Frank, and on the Nickelodeon live-action teen sitcom iCarly, as Principal Franklin, a recurring...
as Town clerk. - John Bigham as Asylum doctor.
- Alan Altshuld as Clerk's assistant.
- Ernest Misko as Old man.
- Darren Joel as Policeman #1.
- Mitch Steinberg as Policeman #2.
- Dr. Frank Bettag as Organ grinder.
- Buckley Sampson as Young woman.
- Ricky Skilliter as Burly man #1.
- Brian FarberBrian FarberBrian Farber is an American soccer player who currently plays for Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League.-College:...
as Burly Man #2 / Cloaked man.
Background
The film was entirely filmed in front of a green screen and tried to recapture the look of the original – several shots from the original were superimposed behind the actors to exactly replicate some scenes.External links
- ScreamFest - official website
- The Doug Jones Experience - Doug Jones as 'Cesare'
- IGN interview