HÄXAN

Häxan is a surreal collision of history and hysteria, where witchcraft fades into the madness of faith.

A blend of documentary, dramatization, and surreal imagery, this silent film explores the history of witchcraft and superstition, revealing how fear and ignorance fueled centuries of persecution. As a hybrid of scholarly investigation and a nightmare vision, Häxan defies any simple categorization.

Häxan is a feverish, boundary-pushing film: part documentary, part occult spectacle, and, in a sense, a century-old video essay. Using medieval woodcuts as its starting point, the film traces the history of witchcraft from the Middle Ages to modern psychiatry. Beneath the sensational demons and witches’ sabbaths lies a surprisingly progressive undercurrent. The film reveals how superstition, misogyny, and the persecution of women shaped the witch hunts, while even pointing toward early insights into mental illness and social oppression.

Film Special with Live Musical Accompaniment

During this screening, Kevin Toma will provide live piano accompaniment for this silent film. Before the screening, there will be an introduction to the new Haarlem Horror Film Festival. After the screening, a Q&A with Kevin Toma will take place in the cinema hall.