The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a 1920 German Expressionist film told as a flashback. It stars Werner Krauss (Waxworks, The Student of Prague) and Conrad Veidt (Casablanca). I have liked the German Expressionist films I have seen so far: The Golem and Nosferatu. Priceless, this is especially perfect if you want a horror film that's Definitely Different with no blood or gore.

Dr. Caligari exhibits Cesare the Somnambulist at a carnival where Cesare foretells the death of a young man who is then found murdered the next morning.

Moria says it "is one of, if not the, most influential of all silent films. It was a huge artistic success in its time. Its impact on early fantastic cinema is immeasurable". Weird Wild Realm says, "This film had a profound influence on Hollywood cinema at least to the end of the film noir era. The influence has never entirely faded, right down to the present hour." 1000 Misspent Hours calls it "the most important horror movie of all time."

The Guardian has it at #16 on its list of best horror films of all time. Empire Online gives it 5 out of 5 stars and credits it as having the first twist ending in cinema history. Slant Magazine has a 4 out of 4 star rating.

Roger Ebert includes it in his list of great movies. Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 100%.