Episode 21 - Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:26:50 — 79.8MB)

This is the podcast dedicated to The Criterion Collection. Rudie, Ryan & Travis discuss Criterion News & Rumors and Criterion New Releases, we analyze, discuss & highlight Criterion #134, Benjamin Christensen’s 1922 silent film, Häxan, along with ‘Variations on a Theme’.

This week’s “Variations on a Theme:”

The Occult in Movies

What do you think of our show? Please send your feed back: [email protected] or call our voicemail line @ 347.878.3430 or follow us on twitter @CriterionCast or Comment on our blog, http://CriterionCast.com.

Thank you for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and please leave your reviews in our iTunes feed.

Our next episode we will discuss Criterion #045 Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry.

Add It To Your Netflix Queue.

Show Notes:

(00:00 – 00:15; “A United Theory” by God Help The Girl)

(00:16 – 01:04; The CriterionCast – Episode 21 – Häxan – Criterion #134)

(01:05 – 01:15; News & Rumors)

(01:16 – 10:56; Sam Raimi & Tobey Maguire Walk Off Spider-Man 4 Project)

(10:57 – 13:42; Wes Anderson Accepts Award From The National Board of Review)

(13:43 – 17:17; French New Wave Filmmaker, Eric Romher Dies at 89)

(17:18 – 30:24; Criterion New Releases)

(30:25 – 31:41; Break Music by Carlos Segovia)

(31:15 – 59:39; Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan – Criterion #134)

(59:40 – 1:00:53; Break Music by Carlos Segovia)

(1:00:54 – 1:01:28; Variations On A Theme – The Occult In Movies)

(1:01:29 – 1:06:09; Teen Witch – Rudie Obias)

(1:06:10 – 1:12:01; Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs – Ryan Gallagher)

(1:12:02 – 1:18:00; The Wicker Man (1973) – Travis George)

(1:18:01 – 1:21:26; Wrap Up & Contact Info)

(1:21:27 – 1:21:48; Music Credits)

(1:21:49 – 1:22:11; Next – Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry – Criterion #045)

(1:22:12 – 1:22:28; Follow Along With Us @ CriterionCast.com/Schedule)

(1:22:29 – 1:22:37; Goodbyes)

(1:22:38 – 1:23:27; “Working Poor” by Horse Feathers)

(1:23:28 – 1:26:50; Outtakes)

Music Credits:

Intro Music by God Help The Girl. Learn more on iTunes and their website, GodHelpTheGirl.com.

Break Music by Carlos Segovia. Learn more @ GhostRamps.com.

Outro Music by Horse Feathers. Learn more on iTunes and their MySpace Page, MySpace.com/HorseFeathersMusic.

4 comments

PoMoXian says:

January 20, 2010 at 11:59 am

I listened to your discussion of Haxan over the past couple days. I may have missed a bit of the discussion due to distractions but I don't recall hearing any references to how this footage has been used by various death metal bands or Haxan's place in pop culture as a storehouse of symbolic imagery and representations of the Devil and his minions. The final section was a big surprise to me when it took a pronouncedly proto-feminist turn – never saw that coming! But it really enriched the film well beyond my expectations. You guys do a good job with these podcasts and I enjoy how your comments get me to reflect again on films like this one that I haven't seen for awhile.
PoMoXian says:

January 20, 2010 at 7:59 pm

I listened to your discussion of Haxan over the past couple days. I may have missed a bit of the discussion due to distractions but I don't recall hearing any references to how this footage has been used by various death metal bands or Haxan's place in pop culture as a storehouse of symbolic imagery and representations of the Devil and his minions. The final section was a big surprise to me when it took a pronouncedly proto-feminist turn – never saw that coming! But it really enriched the film well beyond my expectations. You guys do a good job with these podcasts and I enjoy how your comments get me to reflect again on films like this one that I haven't seen for awhile.

Episode 21 – Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan

Ryan Gallagher

4 comments

Just Announced!