The Haunted Castle (1896)
4 / 5 | DIRECTOR: GEORGE MÉLIÈS
Think about the first time you saw something that frightened you. Maybe it was when you went to your first haunted house or perhaps when you watched a scary movie alone at home. An experience that sent chills down your spine and left you thinking. Could this be real or fake?
We often seek those very sensations through films. Which prompted me to think about where it started.
“The Haunted Castle” only lasts a total of 178 seconds but it is quite the film to watch. I first heard of the movie while reading “Horror Unmasked” by Brad Weismann. A book that speaks on the history of horror films which I highly recommend picking up.
Produced & Directed by Parisian George Méliès who lived from 1861 through 1938. Méliès created what Weismann describes as “The first film with identifiable “horror” content.” It played with the audience's perception of truth & myth with Méliès use of special effects. An important innovation to not just film but horror films. It was released in France as “Le Manor du Diable” which translates to “House of the Devil” which later was adapted to be “The Haunted Castle”
While the editing in the film might come off as basic, at the time of production it was quite new and advanced. So much so that certain audiences were not just emotionally frightened but had physical repulsions to the special effects. Only goes to show that sometimes our fears come from the unknown rather than what is on screen.
The entirety of the movie takes place on the same set. A room in a castle that is currently being haunted by the Devil and his assistant. They take over a room as two men wander in and explore. You can see the paranormal attacks being performed on them which include a bat turning into the Devil himself. The Devil summons a beautiful woman into the room who turns out to be nothing but a hideous old woman. Another trope that we still see in films today. As the torture continues you can see the men become visually confused and frightened. The film promptly ends with one of the men pulling out a cross and defeating the Devil. Another trope that we often see in films.
While the film is short, it is worth a watch to see how simple horror can be so frightful at the right moment. This movie might not have been the first time you felt scared but it certainly was for audiences in 1896. They watched something never seen before and they felt the horror go from their screens to their bodies. George Méliès went on to produce more movies and found some success. Their biggest setback was the inability to improve on his early successful use of special effects and ideas.
Whether you are into short films or an avid fan of horror. I recommend not just watching movies for the content but to digest the production as a whole. In the same way that it is important to understand the author's intent when writing a book, it is important to do that with film. Directors have a vision for their work and by watching a director's work you can better grasp the ideas and concepts of their projects. Understanding that Méliès was also a magician helps the audience understand why he was able to come up with the ideas and work we see in his production of “The Haunted Castle” in 1896.
References:
Weismann, Brad. Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope. Epic Ink, 2023.
Amazon Links:
Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope: https://amzn.to/42bc9sx
