Watch Hour of the Wolf

Hour of the Wolf (1968) is a psychological horror film directed by the legendary Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, starring Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, and Gertrud Fridh. The movie takes us to an isolated island off the coast of Sweden, where a reclusive artist named Johan Borg (von Sydow) and his wife Alma (Ullmann) have sought refuge from the rest of the world. Johan suffers from insomnia, hallucinations, and paranoia, and he asks Alma to document his experiences as he descends further into madness.

As the days pass, Johan's delusions become more and more vivid, and he begins to see eerie figures and hear voices that he cannot explain. Alma, who loves Johan deeply, tries to care for him and understand his symptoms, but she is also afraid of what he might do to her in his fits of madness.

The couple's isolation is soon threatened when they receive visits from strange and mysterious guests who seem to know more about Johan's past than they let on. These visits dredge up memories that Johan had tried to suppress, and he begins to uncover a dark secret that he had hoped to keep buried forever.

Hour of the Wolf is a haunting study of mental illness and the fragile nature of human sanity. Bergman's direction is masterful, evoking an atmosphere of ominous foreboding and suffocating tension that never lets up. The film is shot in rich black-and-white cinematography that highlights the gothic beauty of the island setting, and the performances by the lead actors are mesmerizing and unforgettable.

Max von Sydow delivers an exceptional performance as Johan, whose tormented psyche drives the narrative forward. His portrayal of a man dealing with the demons of his past and present is both chilling and sympathetic, and it's a testament to his talent as an actor that he manages to make Johan's descent into madness feel so real.

Liv Ullmann is equally brilliant as Alma, whose story mirrors Johan's in many ways. She plays the part with a quiet strength and grace that makes her character feel like the emotional center of the film.

Gertrud Fridh rounds out the cast as Johan's mother-in-law, whose presence on the island only adds to the sense of unease that permeates the movie. Her character is shrouded in mystery and suspicion, and the scenes between her and Johan are some of the most unsettling in the film.

Hour of the Wolf is not for the faint of heart. It's a disturbing and intense film that will leave viewers feeling shaken long after the credits roll. But for those willing to brave its dark depths, it's also a cinematic experience unlike any other. With its surreal imagery, hypnotic soundtrack, and poetic dialogue, Hour of the Wolf is a haunting masterpiece that cements Ingmar Bergman's place as one of cinema's greatest auteurs.

Hour of the Wolf is a 1968 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.