The Haunted Castle

Director: F. W. Murnau
Year Released: 1921
Rating: 1.0

It's a shame this is one of the only works available from Murnau's early period, because it isn't very good, or at least not good compared to what he later became capable of in Nosferatu and his 'mature' period (Sunrise, The Last Laugh, Tabu). Action seems stilted in a Last Year at Marienbad way, where the clean décor overwhelms the talent (though the effect isn't the same, and Resnais' film is pure genius) – I was under the impression Murnau was more interested in the hallways and sets than the actors. There's a neat twist at the end if you can keep your attention that long.