Regarding the visual style of this movie, there are certain frames in this film that have an extreme similarity with the expressionist art works.
1. Compare Cesare's visualization with The Scream.
Cesare, a somnambulist who is manipulated by Dr, Caligari, sneaks into Jane's home as she sleeps and attempts to stab her. Then he drags her through the window onto the street. The theatrical face and body of Cesare has high similarity with the character in The Scream, which is the quintessential work of expressionist art painted by Edvard Munch.
2. Compare the street of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with Kandinsky's art
The sets of film are dominated by sharp-pointed forms and oblique and curving lines, with narrow and spiraling streets. The geometrical graphics replace natural landscapes in this movie. The production design of this film happens to coincide with Kandinsky's concept: point and line to plane.
3. The consistency of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Expressionism
Not only does the visualization of this movie conveys the elements of expressionism, but the themes and interpretations of this movie also embody expressionism's purpose. Expressionism artists try to express meaning or emotional experience rather than physical reality, meanwhile, the visual style of Caligari conveys a sense of anxiety and terror to the audiences. The elements of this movie create a chaotic and insane world rather than reality, such as irregular window frames, unusually tall chairs, and twisted tree branches.
In conclusion, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is definitely a masterpiece that embodies German Expressionism. Caligari is not only influential in the field of Expressionism, but also in the film world as a whole today. Besides the impressions Caligari made on horror movies that followed, Caligari has also inspired many filmmakers, especially at the time they are establishing the stylized character and production design.
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