¨Hour of the wolf¨ is a spellbinding masterpiece by the genius Ingmar Bergman with brilliant acting by a Swedish all-star-cast . A disturbing artist named Johan Borg (Max Von Sidow) in crisis is haunted by nightmares from the past , which takes place on a thunderous , windy island in Sweden . It occurs during "the hour of the wolf" - between midnight and dawn - . It is the hour when most people die . It is the hour when the sleepless are haunted by their deepest fear, when ghosts and demons are most powerful. It is also the hour when most children are born . Johan tells his wife Alma Borg (Liv Ullman) about his most painful records . Strange hallucination create the artist's world , as he sees apparitions shaping a tormented vision of dreams and anxieties that seem at times utterly out of control .
This Swedish movie displays haunting and powerful scenes , it's plenty of bizarre images which stay forever in the mind . Interesting , claustrophobic and surrealist film about an artist retreated to deserted island , being splendidly performed by Max Von Sidow , in Ingmar Bergman's only horror film . Weird , rare look into the personality of a depressed artist who suffers amazing nightmares . Although sometimes is slow moving , however the thoughtful and eerie screenplay is narrated with intelligence and coldness but are developed strange and moral issues as anxieties , painful memories and guiltiness . Ingmar Bergman originally penned the script in 1964 under the title "The Cannibals" . A serious bout of pneumonia led him to reconsider the project whilst lying in hospital; he deemed it to be potentially too expensive in concept and execution . Bergman revised the script idea into a more low budget piece to accompany Persona . The movie realizes an excellent Sweden reunion actors with usual Bergman's players as Max Von Sidow , Liv Ullman , Ingrid Thulin and special mention to Erland Josephson as Baron Von Merkens , showing perfectly the different characters and exploring their apprehensions , ambitions , fears and circumstances . Glimmer and riveting cinematography in white and black by Sven Nykvist plenty of lights and shades (won an Oscar for Fanny and Alexander) , he's deemed by many to be one of the world's greatest cameraman , he achieved to give the movies on the most natural and simplest look imaginable , he replaced to Gunner Fischer (The seventh seal) as Bergman's cinematographer . He continued an American career working for Louis Malle (Pretty baby) , Bob Fosse (Star 80) , Philip Kaufman (The unbearable lightness of being) and Woody Allen (Another woman , Crimen and misdemeanors) . ¨Hour of the Wolf¨ or "Vargtimmen" is wonderfully directed by Bergman , it's a real masterpiece who made his major impact gaining international acclaim . His realization was during an impressive golden period from 1957-1968 when Bergman made stunning masterpieces : The seventh seal , Persona , The communicants , The silence , Virgin spring . Rating : Magnificent , it is considered by many (along with The seventh seal) to be Bergman's one of the best and probably the closest Ingmar has ever come to creating a terror movie . This surreal , nightmarish film will appeal to Ingmar Berman and Max Von Sidow enthusiasts .
This Swedish movie displays haunting and powerful scenes , it's plenty of bizarre images which stay forever in the mind . Interesting , claustrophobic and surrealist film about an artist retreated to deserted island , being splendidly performed by Max Von Sidow , in Ingmar Bergman's only horror film . Weird , rare look into the personality of a depressed artist who suffers amazing nightmares . Although sometimes is slow moving , however the thoughtful and eerie screenplay is narrated with intelligence and coldness but are developed strange and moral issues as anxieties , painful memories and guiltiness . Ingmar Bergman originally penned the script in 1964 under the title "The Cannibals" . A serious bout of pneumonia led him to reconsider the project whilst lying in hospital; he deemed it to be potentially too expensive in concept and execution . Bergman revised the script idea into a more low budget piece to accompany Persona . The movie realizes an excellent Sweden reunion actors with usual Bergman's players as Max Von Sidow , Liv Ullman , Ingrid Thulin and special mention to Erland Josephson as Baron Von Merkens , showing perfectly the different characters and exploring their apprehensions , ambitions , fears and circumstances . Glimmer and riveting cinematography in white and black by Sven Nykvist plenty of lights and shades (won an Oscar for Fanny and Alexander) , he's deemed by many to be one of the world's greatest cameraman , he achieved to give the movies on the most natural and simplest look imaginable , he replaced to Gunner Fischer (The seventh seal) as Bergman's cinematographer . He continued an American career working for Louis Malle (Pretty baby) , Bob Fosse (Star 80) , Philip Kaufman (The unbearable lightness of being) and Woody Allen (Another woman , Crimen and misdemeanors) . ¨Hour of the Wolf¨ or "Vargtimmen" is wonderfully directed by Bergman , it's a real masterpiece who made his major impact gaining international acclaim . His realization was during an impressive golden period from 1957-1968 when Bergman made stunning masterpieces : The seventh seal , Persona , The communicants , The silence , Virgin spring . Rating : Magnificent , it is considered by many (along with The seventh seal) to be Bergman's one of the best and probably the closest Ingmar has ever come to creating a terror movie . This surreal , nightmarish film will appeal to Ingmar Berman and Max Von Sidow enthusiasts .