It starts off pretty slow and has some pacing issues but is nontheless a very interesting film and has quite a few great scenes, not to mention The Golem itself which is friggin' cool. It's based on a Jewish legend in Prague and what struck me is why hasn't this story been adapted to the big screen more often? There have only been a few obscure movies throughout the years and nothing recently. I think it's time this story be revisited.

Hard for us to see as horror, but imagine the reaction in 1920. A great deal of it is corny and schmaltzy, but the Expressionist style is quite effective here. The wacky angles, odd iris shots, and tinted frames are disorienting and eerie. Whether there are parallels between the 16th Century persecution being depicted and the anti-Semitism of Weimar Germany I'll leave to historians.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

A mess. The film doesn't get any forward momentum until The Golem shows up and that's halfway throughout the film. Even then, The Golem doesn't seem to do that much and the ending is super schmaltzy. However, the film does sport some impressive cinematography and special-effects.

For my 100 years of horror list. (check my lists to check it out)

This was absolute beautiful to see. Every shot breathes atmosphere and every set is gorgeous, almost to an amount that you think you're watching a fairytale. Having said that, I was hoping for a bit more horror. Besides the ritual that brought the Golem alive (an outstanding scene!) there wasn't much terrifying going on. Or just not for someone that's living in the 21st century, people who saw this in the 1920's could have been terrified. If not that they were amazed for sure.

Although not the horror I hoped for it's the best movie I saw so far for this challenge.

This is a slice of ( early German horror, and no one did it better than they during this period. But the eeriest thing about watching this film today is that it is a Weimar retelling of the centuries-old legend of the Golem of Prague, a monstrous creature brought to life by a Rabbi to save the Jews from persecution. Paul Wegener wrote, directed, and played the title character. Wegener was not Jewish, and during the Nazi regime he appeared in propaganda films as an actor of the state, but secretly he worked against them. Considering his fascination with the golem (this was his third golem film), you’d think the Nazis could have seen that coming. Anyway, off-topic. The point is, it’s hard to watch a German film from 1920 that begins with someone seeing “grave danger to the Jewish people” written in the stars and not think ahead.

Before Frankenstein there was "The Golem." This man-made beast is designed to save the Jewish community from exile but like all great monsters he eventually causes a ruckus and harm to all ensues.

Sadly, moments of this film fall flat, however, other moments really shine (for example, the fire during the last 15 minutes. Some of the framework here is amazing, especially if watching the restored and colour-tinted version).

Interestingly, The Golem remains one of the great monsters that has seldom been given some kind of reboot. Is there even any? This I must find out.

Anyway, The Golem is generally a great film despite its flaws. Quintessential viewing for silent fans and horror fans alike.

Greeat Expressionist masterpiece.