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5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Der Schimmelreiter remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you need fast cuts and a plot that actually moves, skip this. This is for people who like to watch waves crash for ten minutes while someone looks concerned in the background. If you’re a fan of old-school, grim folk stories, you might dig it. If you want a fun Friday night flick, stay away.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed during a constant drizzle. You can almost smell the damp wool and wet salt. It makes The Wreck of the Hesperus feel like a beach party in comparison.
There is a shot of the white horse standing on the dike that lasts way longer than it needs to. I counted. The horse is just chewing on something, looking at the camera. It’s either a stroke of genius or they just couldn’t get the horse to walk away.
The dialogue is thick with that old-fashioned, heavy-handed drama. Everyone talks like they are reciting a prayer before a hanging. It’s exhausting, but in a weirdly hypnotic way.
I found myself wondering if anyone actually checked the continuity of the tides. One second the water is miles out, then it’s crashing against the windows. Maybe it’s a magical horse thing? Who knows. It’s not like they care about making sense.
It definitely has a vibe similar to The Devil's Garden in how it treats the environment like a character. Nature is the bad guy here, and it’s a very grumpy, wet bad guy.
Sometimes the movie just stops. It just sits there, pondering the horizon. It’s brave, I guess, or maybe they just ran out of film and had to fill the space. There is no middle ground with these old black and white dramas.
Don't expect a clean ending. You get a lot of staring and then it’s over. I walked away feeling like I needed a towel.