When it comes tohorror, it’s up to debate what the best decade was for the genre.Alfred Hitchcockreinvented the suspenseful thriller in the 60s with films likePsychoandThe Birds, the slasher took theaters by bloody storm with franchises likeFriday the 13thandHalloweenand “Elevated Horror” scared moviegoers in the 2010s with modern classics likeThe WitchandIt Follows. However, none of that would’ve been possible without the revolutionarysilent era of the 1920swhere gothic horror had its spooky origins on screen. Now, one of that decade’s most haunting masterpieces,The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariis coming to4Kfor the first time thanks toKino Lorberthis Halloween.
DirectorRobert Wiene’s 1920descent into madnesswill becoming to 4K, via a 4K/Blu-ray combo pack on July 04, 2025. The restoration work was done by the F. W. Murnau Foundation.Dr. Caligari’s special features include an Audio commentary by composerJeff Beal, “Caligari: How Horror Came to the Cinema” and “Restoration Demonstration”. This release features a new orchestral musical score done by Beal and the Studio for Film Music at the University of Music Freiburg. Kino Lorber has been supporting horror on physical media for over a decade now, with themoriginally releasingDr. Caligarion Blu-ray all the way back in 2014. Given thefilm’s age, it is one of the oldest classics to come to the 4K format yet. The boutique label released another silent era horror classic on Blu-ray back in the 2010s, 1922’sNosferatu. Given new interest in that franchise due toRobert Eggers' upcoming remake, maybe Kino will give that version ofDraculathe 4K treatment in the near future too.
The Doctor Will Kill You Now
One of the first examples of the “Mad Doctor” trope on the big screen,Dr. Caligarifollows the titled villain as he proceeds to hypnotize people to do his evil bidding.That mainly centered around killing people for their own amusement. Even though this German expressionist film is over 100 years old, every horror film since its release hasowed something to this gothic nightmare. The demented fun house-like sets made you question everything, the thick atmosphere felt like it had its hands around the neck of every viewer andthe crazed doctor would be the temple for many of our famousmovie monstersgoing forward.Dr. Caligarididn’t need sound or jump scares to induce fearful terror into its audience. It’s still scary to this day thanks to its chilling simplicity,trippy visualsand its memorable characters.
Where’s ‘Dr. Caligari’ Streaming?
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariis currently streaming on a handful of free platforms, like Tubi. However, you’re able to pre-orderDr. Caligari’s 4K from Kino Lorber onAmazonfor $29.99 USD.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
