Robert Wiene (1920)

Francis, a young man, recalls the terrifying events he and his fiancée, Jane, experienced in the town of Holstenwall. Dr. Caligari, a sinister hypnotist, arrives at a local fair with his somnambulist, Cesare, who has been asleep for 23 years. Cesare, under Caligari's control, predicts Alan's death, and the prophecy comes true. As more murders occur, Francis investigates and discovers that Caligari is using Cesare to commit the crimes. The film concludes with a twist, revealing that Francis's narrative might be the delusion of an asylum inmate, casting doubt on the entire story.

Paul Wegener & Carl Boese (1920)

In The Golem: How He Came into the World, a Prague rabbi creates a giant clay figure to protect the Jewish community from expulsion. Initially a servant, the Golem soon becomes uncontrollable, threatening the very people it was meant to save. Rooted in Jewish folklore and expressionist design, the film uses monumental sets and haunting imagery to tell a story about creation, faith, and the unintended consequences of wielding power beyond human limits.

Benjamin Christensen (1922)

In this visually arresting and genre-defying film, Häxan explores the history of witchcraft and superstition from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Blending dramatizations, documentary techniques, and surreal imagery, the film portrays the fear and persecution of women, the influence of the Church, and the psychological roots of hysteria. Provocative and bold, Häxan challenges religious dogma and remains one of the most innovative and controversial works of silent cinema.

F. W. Murnau (1922)

In this highly influential silent horror film, the mysterious Count Orlok summons Thomas Hutter to his remote Transylvanian castle. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen. After Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile, Orlok's servant, Knock, prepares for his master's arrival at his new home. The film explores themes of fear and the supernatural, establishing many of the visual and narrative conventions of the vampire genre.