Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari (aka The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari) (1920)

A young man (Friedrich Feher) regales a stranger with a curious story involving his friend and romantic rival (Hans Heinrich Von Twardowski), who are both in love with the same woman (Lil Dagover). At a carnival, a somnambulist (Conrad Veidt, CASABLANCA) tells him he will not survive the dawn and indeed, he is murdered in his bed. This landmark film has a justifiably exalted reputation. It's influence continues to this day and it is the most accessible example of what is referred to as German expressionism. Its plot is relatively uncomplicated but this is not a film driven by its narrative. The director Robert Wiene and his team of production designers (Walter Reimann, Walter Rohrig, Hermann Warm) have created a surreal, dream like world that disorients its audience. It's both terrifying and compelling simultaneously. Almost 100 years later, it hasn't lost any of its magic. This is a film that deserves the appellation of masterpiece. I saw it accompanied by a very effective hypnotic synth score by Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky). With Werner Krauss in the title role.