On Friday, September 25th, Reel Rituals joins the Erie Art Museum for a special screening of Robert Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), one of the most influential horror films of all-time and a defining work of German Expressionist cinema.

Before the film, guests will briefly learn about the origins of Expressionism and examine how its distorted perspectives, dreamlike imagery, and emotional intensity reshaped visual art and laid the foundation for generations of filmmakers (including the likes of Tim Burton and David Lynch). The presentation will also be complemented by select Expressionist works from the Erie Art Museum's collection, inviting audiences to experience an artistic dialogue between the gallery walls and the silver screen.

Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a guided discussion exploring the film's enduring legacy and why, over a century later, its shadow still stretches across modern horror and cinema. Founded by film curators, enthusiasts, and horror hosts Aaron "Madman" Mook and Rie Witherow (The Pentacle Pinup), Reel Rituals bills itself as an accessible film series that invites audiences to look beyond the surface of cult and genre cinema through educational screenings and thoughtful interactive discussion.

TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION STILL TO COME.