Haxan – Story of Witchcraft

Sat 30th Nov
8:00PM
ARK Cliftonville

Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922) is a Swedish-Danish silent film directed by Benjamin Christensen that blends documentary and dramatized scenes to explore the history and myths surrounding witchcraft.

Inspired by the 15th-century guide Malleus Maleficarum, the film traces the rise of superstition and the persecution of alleged witches in the Middle Ages, showing how ignorance and fear often led to hysteria and brutal witch hunts.

Christensen uses a mix of historical analysis and eerie re-enactments to depict the accusations of witchcraft, with a focus on how conditions like mental illness were often misunderstood and linked to supernatural causes. With its vivid portrayals of torture, occult rituals, and the Inquisition, the film was highly controversial, facing censorship and bans in various countries. Despite this, Häxan is now recognised as a groundbreaking work that paved the way for modern documentary and horror cinema.​

Live scored by local musicians AUTOHAUs.

AUTOHAUs are an instrumental four piece band based in Margate on the Kent coast

“AUTOHAUs make fractal music; layering fuzzed-out noise and electronic drones, motorik percussion and hypnotic bass lines… a must for fans of Spacemen3, The Cosmic Dead, Ash Ra Tempel and Neu!”

Film details
Country: Denmark
Language: Swedish
Genre: Documentary/Horror
Cast: Benjamin Christensen as the Devil Ella la Cour as Sorceress Karna Emmy Schønfeld as Karna's Assistant Kate Fabian as the Old Maid Oscar Stribolt as Fat Monk
Running time: 1hr 45mins
Year: 1922
Ticket prices

FEATURES:  £8 adv / £10 door

SHORTS: £5 adv / £10 door

LIVE SCORE: £12 adv / £15 door

Low income tickets available on all events. Please contact us for free carers tickets.