Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
An alcoholic, abusive ne'er-do-well is shown the error of his ways through a legend that dooms the last person to die on New Year's Eve before the clock strikes twelve to take the reins of Death's chariot and work tirelessly collecting fresh souls for the next year.
Victor Sjöström's silent masterpiece earns top marks for its inventive double-exposure cinematography, which was genuinely revolutionary for 1921 and remains visually striking today. The nested flashback structure and the Death's carriage mythology give the plot real conceptual ambition. Novelty is very high — the film is utterly singular in its era and directly influenced filmmakers like Bergman. Acting is competent for silent-era conventions but somewhat melodramatic by any standard. The ending, while morally satisfying, is a fairly conventional redemption arc resolution that feels earned but not especially surprising.