Der Student von Prag: A spooky mirror trip

If you have any patience for films that don't move at the speed of a TikTok scroll, Der Student von Prag is worth a look. It’s for the folks who like their old movies to feel like a fever dream. If you need constant jump scares or snappy dialogue, stay away. You will probably find this thing boring as dirt.

The story is simple enough. A guy is broke, meets a weirdo, and trades his soul—or his reflection—for a bag of gold. It feels a lot like those old cautionary tales your grandma might have told if she was really into German expressionism.

I found myself staring at the shadows in the background more than the actual actors. There is this one scene near the inn where the lighting feels so heavy it’s like the room is shrinking. It’s not fancy, but it works better than a thousand CGI effects.

Anton Walbrook is doing a lot of heavy lifting here with just his eyes. Sometimes he looks so guilty you’d think he actually sold his soul for a bit of coin.

The pacing is… well, it takes its sweet time. There are moments where I thought about checking my phone, but then a shot of the Prague streets would pop up and I’d get sucked back in. It’s moody in a way that feels honest.

It’s nowhere near as punchy as Rose Bernd, which hit me a lot harder emotionally. This one is more of a curiosity cabinet kind of movie.

There is a specific bit where the double—the reflection—just stands there watching the main character. It’s not even a jump scare. It’s just creepy. It reminded me a bit of the quiet dread in The Yellow Dog, just with more velvet and high collars.

I don't know if the writers really knew how to wrap this up properly. It sort of just ends in a pile of misery. But that feels right for this kind of story. Who wants a happy ending after a deal with the devil anyway?

• The makeup on the villain is hilariously dramatic.
• Some of the set pieces look like they might fall over if someone sneezed.
• The silence is used better than the music.
• Why is everyone so obsessed with the singer? I didn't get it.

Give it a shot if you’re in the mood for something dark and dusty. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got a weird heart to it. 🕯️