Ingmar Bergman’s 1968 film Hour of the Wolf was the Swedish auteur’s only true stab at making a “horror” film and in true Bergman fashion, he explores themes of madness, creative isolation, and paranoia. Told through flashbacks, obsessive artist Johan and his pregnant wife Alma retreat to an isolated island for some convalesce and artistic focus, but Johan begins to have delusions brought on by intense insomnia and anxiety. Bergman’s stoic filmmaking trademarks fall to the wayside as he uses wild camera movements, a roaring soundtrack, and visibly distraught characters to allow the psychological horror to seep out from Johan’s confusion. Full of incredible performances, it’s not Bergman’s best work, but even so, it is expertly executed and visually weird from an auteur filmmaker.
