Kino does it right...
Burritoman "USA" | Pennsylvania | 01/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After years of squinting through poor-quality copies, our friends at Kino have released Griffith's 1914 film "The Avenging Conscience" on dvd. This means we have an excellent print to view and enjoy. Thanks Kino."
And so horror was born...
C. Christopher Blackshere | I am the devil's reject | 12/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Commonly regarded as the first true masterpiece of the genre, The Avenging Conscience emerged from the cinematic vaults back in 1914.
D.W. Griffith directed two other superb silent films--Birth of a Nation and Intolerance--both of which made AFI's top 100 movies of all time. They contain startling images that will leave a lasting impression.
The Avenging Conscience is no less spectacular. The story is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart. A young man is driven to madness after committing murder.
What's most amazing with this movie is the camera work. Ghosts floating through the room. Heavenly images superimposed in the clouds. Demons gathering in hell. There is a high level of surrealism and metaphors that make this film truly special. It all culminates into one creepy, ground-breaking piece of horror cinema. Highly recommended to silent film buffs."