MovieChat Forums > Vargtimmen (1968) Discussion > A bit disappointed

A bit disappointed

posted 17 years ago by Voice-in-the-Machine
18 replies | jump to latest

I consider myself to be a big Bergman fan (specifically the "Trilogy" and Persona), but after finally seeing this movie I found myself a bit disappointed by it. First off, other than having read that it was a horror film, I really didn't feel any sort of fear until the scene with the young boy. Even the scenes at the first party I just found more bizarre than eerie, and by the end I just assumed he was going mad, and so I didn't really feel any fear at that point either (and even if he wasn't going mad, it felt so contrived that I had a hard time taking the fear aspect seriously).

My other drawback was that I had a hard time grasping the theme of this movie. It definitely overlaps with Persona, but I found there to be less thematic development, and more emphasis on trying to make it feel eerie.

Maybe Bergman's ideas of horror just isn't really suited to my tastes, or maybe I just don't relate well enough to this particular approach to grab my interests, but I really felt as though this movie lacked the intense clarity of mood and theme that I love about Bergman.

[–] peter-sodja 17 years ago

I somewhat share your oppinion. I saw the movie 1st time yesterday.
It wasnt really a horror movie. I dont think that even by standards in the 60s. And I guess I could say its pretty predictable, though I have seen lots of similar stories in many horror movies and such. If vartigen is the original I dont know, that doesnt really matter.

Still, you cannot hold any of it against it. The movie is a masterpiece. Beautiful.

[–] cedarcubical 17 years ago

Personally, I think this movie is the most terrifying film ever created. To even put it in the same category as other horror films, or any film for that matter, is in my opinion, a mistake.

"...I'm Paul."
Blue Velvet, 1986

[–] strattford 14 years ago

Really? Perhaps you might want to share your thoughts. I didn't undestand it after watch it 3 times in a 2 months period. It's such a disappointment this feeling that "I'm most likely missing something that give sense to the subtle story and shine on the horror to that"

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[–] Trouter2000 17 years ago

I have to agree with voice-in-the-machine, I am a great lover of Bergman's masterpieces (Fanny & Alexander, The Seventh Seal, Persona, Winter Light), but Hour of the Wolf really lacked the grand scale themes and power that those films had. It certainly is not up to Bergman's usually high standards.

Last film seen: Hour of the Wolf 7/10

[–] amazins5485 16 years ago

totally agree. in some of his movies Bergman teeters with some scenes that could be cut, but add to the atmosphere of the setting and characters. at some points I questioned why this was even made into a movie. i didnt really see the message of it besides insanity, insomnia, love, fear and persuasion thrown into a melting pot of surrealism. i love max and liv together but was pretty disappointed. by the way Fanny & Alexander/persona are in my overall top 20 movies of all time.

[–] thebabyeaters 16 years ago

I personally enjoyed the film. Although i can certainly understand your opinions. It is not scary. But that excuse does not really mean much. Very few movies scare good percentage of us now. I have not been truly scared by a film since i was younger. Also i try specifically not to compare films to each other. Because i feel it has a way of stealing some enjoyment out of the film.
Either way i just watched it last night and thought it was wonderful. Although i feel i need to experience it again to dig a little deeper.

[–] Magnanimousto 16 years ago

Many of Bergman's films are for certain people. I didn't think that The Seventh Seal was great but like I said not everyone can love all his films, but the man was a master. I personally love this one and even find it terrifying. As a piece of art I would put it beside his greatest. But my favorite Bergman film is Wild Strawberries, I have no idea why but it is, it haunted me for weeks.

[–] BwlBoy 16 years ago

This is the 10th Bergman film I have seen and I can only count this and Sawdust and Tinsel as being films I disliked.

[–] knightofnih 16 years ago

I just saw Hour of the Wolf for the first time, and I loved it. I'm a Bergman fan, and I always enjoy the odd, unpredictable ones (like A Lesson in Love, which surprised me by actually being funny), and Hour of the Wolf, with its horror film trappings, is certainly a different kind of Bergman film. I think it's creepy, imaginative and sublimely innovative, while paying homage to those old German silent movies.

I always wanted to see Georg Rydeberg (the guy applying makeup to Max von Sydow) play Dracula, and this film is the closest I'll ever get, so that's an added bonus.

After having seen Hour of the Wolf I had one of those rare, fleeting moments where I was actually proud to be Swedish.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Eumenides_0 15 years ago

This is my favorite Ingmar Bergman movie so far. Artists who stick to realism always have a unique approach to fantasy and the supernatural. Hour of the Wolf is one of the most interesting and visually creative horror movies I've seen in a long time.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

[–] logan03 15 years ago

I was not disappointed whatsoever. It had great moments of eeriness, the mood was perfect (the constant wind, the overwhelming feeling of isolation) and it never became predictable. Kept me interested and intrigued all the way through, making it one of my favorites by Bergman.

[–] matheusmagalhaes10 12 years ago

Madness is something that you can't escape so i can't think of something more terrifying for us, human beings, than being trapped in our own head.

Your mother cook socks in hell!

[–] Bergman_Fellini87 12 years ago

This is my favourite Bergman. I just love the way he creates a mood, & I find it quite haunting. Not sure why, but it just gets to me.

Although it doesn't scare me, like I said, I do find to be a haunting film, & once when I was watching it, I sort of dozed off as I was tired, & the loud knocking on the door when I believe its Erland Josephson who invites them a second time & gives them a gun, actually frightened me awake. I loved that feeling it gave me, even though I had seen it numerous times before.

I might suggest giving it another shot. I will admit, I was somewhat disappointed in it the first time, but it was totally different to what I was expecting (it was also my second Bergman film).

[–] kenny-164 12 years ago

I must say as a great admirer of Bergman's films that, having just gotten around to seeing Hour of the Wolf, I did not find it as good as pretty much any of the others. Of course that does not mean it is a bad film. And I will have to watch it again. But first viewing did not grab me at all.

The scenes at the von Merkens mansion were interesting. It seemed like Bergman was borrowing from Fellini, especially 8 1/2. I assume intentionally so! But... to what end? I found it amusing, but beyond that? I can't really say.

I get that what would be the horror element is that Alma is quite isolated with a man who she loves but who is having definite issues. And begins to wonder about her own hold on reality. Meanwhile he is struggling to maintain his grasp, in the face of what he experiences as great provocations.

But the Veronica Vogler character, for example, has a surface appeal, to be sure, but I do not know what to ultimately make of her and her overall role in the film.

Well, I will see it again at some point, to be sure.

[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

I have seen the film since my post of 2012, and wish to clarify that a repeat viewing proved helpful in better understanding and appreciating this film. That and seeing how it combined with The Silence to I think be a major contributor to Kubrick's excellent The Shining adds to this film's value.

But putting aside the question of influence, a repeat viewing clarified the connection between the isolation of the film's setting and Johann's dreams/nightmares and daytime fantasies, especially of Veronica Vogler. There's something both poignant and personally disturbing to the way being "left" with Alma, who arguably is not only supportive but quite suitable, seems if anything to encourage him to focus on a kind of fantastic reference back to his Veronica experiences.

Similarly his encounter with the von Merkens seems to posit a Jean Paul Sartre-like encounter, where the way multiple personages bring their different perceptions and intentionalities to the same field as it were, affecting and disrupting the experience of being. But, how much of such disruption is really external? Does any of it come actually from Alma, or even more so from Johann himself?

A fascinating film that I think was not meant to provide easy answers to provocative questions. If any of these themes appeal to you, my experience suggests that too much uncertainty on initial viewing can be improved upon on repeat viewings.

I still would not say it is among my favorite Bergman films of all, but it need not be to be a great film.

[–] ebettman-1 10 years ago

A "Horror Film"? Perhaps a much tamer version of "The Shining" (NO they are not at all related) THIS was to me more of the allegorical metaphorical stuff he did. I only saw this and "The Seventh Seal" which was GREAT.

This is sort of like "Bartleby" or something by Edgar Allen Poe.